92 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECCED. 



Farmers' Bulletin No. 18, of the Department, prepared by the writer, 

 gives accounts of the species whose value to the South has been defi- 

 nitely established. The following is a summary of that bulletin: 



"With reference to the selection of forage plants adapted to different regions, the 

 soils of the South Atlantic and Gulf States may be classified as follows: 



"(1) Yellow loam soils; (2) alluvial and river-bottom soils; (3) black prairie soils; 

 ^4) pine woods soils. 



"The plants most successfully grown for different purposes on these soils are enum- 

 erated below : 



"Forage 2)J ants for yellow loam soils. — For permanent meadows on rich land, Bermuda 

 grass; for a hay crop to occupy rich land 2 years, red clover; for a single hay crop 

 on fair soils, cowpeas ; on poor soils, lespedeza. For permanent pastures, Bermuda 

 grass and lespedeza, to which may be added on dry soils orchard grass, Hungarian 

 brome grass, and bur clover; on wet soils the addition should consist of redtop, 

 water grass, and alsike clover. Crimson clover, rescue grass. Terrell grass, and hairy 

 vetch are recommended for winter pasture. 



"Forac/e plants for the alluvial and river-bottom soils. — J'or permanent meadows, Ber- 

 muda grass and red clover ; on wet spots, redtop ; and on all well-drained soils, alfalfa. 

 For a hay crop for a single season, lespedeza, or German millet. For pastures, 

 Bermuda grass, lespedeza, redtop, alsike clover, bur clover, alfalfa, Japanese rye 

 grass, large water grass, and Terrell grass. 



"Forage plants for the black prairie soils. — For hay, Bermuda grass, red clover, and 

 melilotus. For a hay crop for a single season, lespedeza. For a catch crop, follow- 

 ing oats, potatoes, etc., cowpeas or German millet. For pastui-es, Bermuda grass, 

 lespedeza, melilotus, alsike clover, Hungarian brome grass, orchard grass, redtop, 

 bur clover, and hairy vetch. 



"Forage plants for the pine woods soils. — For hay, Bermuda grass, crab grass, Mexican 

 clover, alfalfa, crimson clover, and lespedeza. For pastures, crimson clover, Jap- 

 anese rye grass, orchard grass, carpet grass, and large water grass." 



The practical and economic results of the work which the Depart- 

 ment has done to encourage the growing of hay and the making of 

 better pastures in the Southern States is clearly shown in the great 

 changes which have been made in the agricultural practices of that 

 region since the beginning of the work. The old idea that the better 

 cultivated grasses can not be successfully grown in the South has been 

 dispelled, and, as a result, the live stock and dairy interests are being 

 developed more rapidly there than in any other section of the country. 

 The demonstration of the fact that green manures are the cheapest 

 and most effective fertilizers is rapidly increasing the acreage of 

 clovers, melilotus, and other leguminous crops, and is causing a cor- 

 responding reduction in the amount of money expended for commercial 

 fertilizers. Before the inauguration of this work the larger part of 

 the hay sold in the States south of the Ohio River crossed that stream 

 on its way from the producer to the consumer; but the Department 

 has now demonstrated that in the Southern States good hay can be 

 made at less expense and good pastures can be had during more 

 months in a year than in any other part of the country. The census 

 returns for 1879 show that in the 5 States where this work has since 

 been carried on the yield of hay amounted to only 0.S6 ton per acre, 

 against an average of 1.14 tons for the whole United States. The 

 returns made to this Department in November, 1893, show that during 



