FIELD CROPS. 8C)3 



129 lbs. of nitrate of soda per acre on April I more than doubled the yield. Winter 

 oats on p<»>r land top-dressed with nitrate of soda were also much benefited. 



Twelve varieties of cow peas were grown and are briefly described. The yields of 

 peas ranged from nothing to over 15 bu. per acre, Whip-poor-will being the leading 

 variety. A yield of L'.ti tons of hay per acre was secured. The value of the cowpea 

 for renovating soils is discussed and directions for curing cowpea hay are given. 



The culture of Johnson grass for hay is described and the effect of fertilizers on 

 the crop is reported. The average results from a fertilizer test gave a profil of 13.03 

 per acre over the check plats. Cultural notes are also given on Bermuda <.m;iss, milo 

 maize, and soy beans. 



Range investigations in Arizona, I ». Griffiths ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Bureau <>( 

 Plant Industry />'«/. 67, /»/'• 62, pis. 10, dgm. I). — This bulletin is a report on further 

 work on range conditions and improvement in cooperation with the Arizona Station 

 (E. S. R., 13, p. 731). 



The more recent results upon the small inclosure previously described are here 

 reported, and the description of a large inclosure containing 31,488 acres upon which 

 the range improvement work was begun in 1903 is given. The more important 

 timber and forage plants studied by the author on his trips over the country are 

 noted, and the most troublesome weeds, together with plants injurious to stock, are 

 enumerated and discussed. 



It is estimated that in general from 50 to loo acres of Arizona lands are required 

 to sustain one bovine animal. Johnson grass was observed to thrive in situations 

 receiving annually two or more irrigations by Hood waters, and this species is con- 

 sidered best adapted for preventing erosion. Bermuda grass did not seem promising 

 without irrigation. The Valley of the Little Colorado resembles the Valley of the 

 Rio Grande in vegetation, but it furnishes much less forage. Upon the lower south- 

 ern areas stock feeds on annual weedy plants from February until about May, on 

 shrubby plants from May until in July, and on perennial grasses and many other 

 forage plants during the rest of the summer and the fall. Forage is most abundant 

 during this last period, while from December to February it is very scarce. Winter 

 and spring annuals occur mainly below an altitude of 4,000 ft. and the best pasture 

 lands are quite generally above an altitude of 3,000 ft. 



The distribution of the rainfall during the summer is regarded as of greater influ- 

 ence upon the condition of the range than the total annual precipitation. It is 

 believed that the large inclosure furnishes from 150 to 200 lbs. of air-dried feed per 

 acre. Alfilerilla, probably accidently introduced, is one of the most important for- 

 age plants of Arizona and is already widely distributed. The introduction of peren- 

 nial forage plants upon the mesas has so far given very little encouragement, but 

 Panicum texanum, an animal, has given promising results and it is believed that 

 annuals with good seed habits will be most successful on the arid mesa lands. 



The relative weight of Pectdcarya linearis, Lota* humilis, and Monolepis nuttalliana, 

 three characteristic desert annuals, and certain of their reproductive portions is given, 

 and the data show that the weight of seed compared with the total weight of the 

 plants is large. The same character was observed in Bouteloua aristoides. The crops 

 cultivated for hay are alfalfa, barley, wheat, and sorghum. Winter barley is com- 

 monly grown with the lirst crop of alfalfa, and in this way the yield of hay is greatly 

 increased. 



The author further reports that the feeding grounds for slice]) are often 6 miles 

 from water, those of cattle 10 miles away, while horses travel even greater distances. 

 The prairie dog is destructive to the range in the north and northeastern parts of 

 the Territory. The Russian thistle has become widely distributed in the northern 

 part. The creosote bush ( Covillea trideniata) is given as one of the plants injurious 

 to sheep. 



