SEED DIVISION. 59 



Our most popular grasses are clover, orchard, herd's or red-top, Texas blue, a'''1 

 Bermuda, iiaffir corn grows vigorously, pi'oducing a mass of foliage of ricli deep- 

 green color. It continues its growtli till frost, and successfully withstands drought. 

 It produces, besides the mass of foliage, an immense croj) of seed, exceeding in 

 yield per acre the Millo maize. It is quite promising as a source of coarse forage, 

 as well as for grain for stock. 



Grain: Our most popular grains are corn, wheat, oats, barley, and rye. "We usu- 

 ally commence jjianting corn the 1st of March, which makes large, lieavy ears. 

 Corn is planted from March to June; oats, corn, wheat, and rye for seed are best 

 for this climate if raised south of Tennessee. If I'aised north of tlie Ohio River, they 

 will not succeed well. The Fultz, Early Red May, and Mediterranean wheats are the 

 Lest varieties in Nortliern Alabama. Very little wheat is sown, as it is almost in- 

 variably injured by rust. We need a rust-proof variety adapted to our climate. 

 Red rust-proof oats, one of our best varieties, are sown from November to March. 

 Barley grows finely on rich land, and small grains yield more abundantly when 

 sown in October. 



ALASKA. 



Grain: The land laws are such that the privilege of acquiring a title to land is 

 expressly denied, hence there is no encouragement to agi'iculture on any extended 

 scale ; otherwise it is beheved cattle-raising, at least, would be largely followed. 

 The shores are never covered for any length of time by snow in the winter, so cattle 

 have been known to live through tJie winter without other food than what they 

 found themselves. The climate is i^roljably too rainy for grain culture in this part 

 of Alaska. Barley and oats grow luxuriantly, but are difficult to ripen and cure. 

 Timothy and clover grow luxuriantly. Wheat has not been fairly tested. 



Vegetables: The following are all the vegetables that can be gro^vn here with 

 profit: Potatoes, planted in April; cabbage, cauliflower, turnips, peas, lettuce, 

 beets, carrots, and salsify, i)lanted in May. The above have been raised with suc- 

 cess, and in quantities to suit the demand. Tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, melons, 

 immpkms, &c., will not grow. In Klawock there is no farming carried on; the 

 country is heavily wooded, although there are several clear tracts of land which 

 could with comparatively small outlay of money be turned into good farms. How- 

 ever, the cost and opportunities of transportation between the different points in 

 Southeast Alaska would make it almost impossible at present to find a paying 

 market for products raised. 



• ARKANSAS. 



Grasses and forage plants : Millet is the chief forage plant. It is planted in June. 

 Some red clover is grown. The different kinds of grasses are not grown extensively, 

 but experiments are teaching us that this is a fine grass country. Crab-grass makes 

 an excellent pasture and is used for hay. The usual time for sowing clover, blue, 

 timothy, and herd's grass is in the month of February. There is a desire to try 

 other varieties than those we now have. Bermuda grass is our best gi-ass for sum- 

 mer gi-azmg, and on rich land makes fine hay. Johnson grass has proved a great 

 success to all who have tried it. Alfalfa and red clover giow finely here on our 

 best land. It is a difficult matter to get the people aroused to the vast importance 

 of giving more time and attention to different grasses and forage plants. 



Grain : We commence plowing in February. Amber wheat and similar varieties 

 do the best in our locality. Our climate requires a wheat that is early and will 

 stand the inist. The Walker wheat is a popular variety. Wheat and rye are sown 

 in October. Rye is a profitable crop if sown earher. We are growing more gram 

 and less cotton. Late corn has proved to be best for our climate, making the larg- 

 est yield per acre. Corn is usually planted in April. White winter oats sown in 

 the fall make a good yield, and are free from rust. Barley and rice are raised to a 

 limited extent. 



Vegetables : All vegetables gi-ow to perfection in this climate; we gi'ow almost 

 every known variety with little labor. Gardening is commenced in Febi'uary and 

 Marcli ; early and late Flat Dutch cabbage and some drumhead for winter use. Irish 

 potatoes must be of an early kmd, on account of our hot, dry summers; planted m 

 March. Turnips, purple-top and Flat Dutch, for early use, do well, but for a main 

 crop must have a hardier kind, like the seven top, to stand the winter. Peas, beans, 

 carrots, and parsnips are planted in April. 



CALIFORNIA. 



Grain : Winter plowing and seeding commences in Northern California as soon 

 as the soil is wet enough to plow. The principal grains are barley, oats (mammoth), 



