64 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



Vegetables: Nearly all the seed sent from the Department did well, particnlarly 

 Flat Dutch cabbage. Potatoes do not grow in this country — eastern part — but do 

 well in tlie mountains. I have raised sugar beets here that weighed 35 pounds. Tlie 

 rod turnip Ix-et is best for table use. All classes of vegetables will do well, however, 

 if sullicient water can be had for proper irrigation. 



NORTH CAROLINA. 



Grasses and forage plant s : The native varieties of grasses succeed better than for- 

 eign ones. Timothy, red clover, red-top, and orchard are the most desirable. We 

 have natural pasturage of spontaneous growth. No doubt most of the varieties of 

 grass would do well, but our farmers have never resorted to them. In the southea.st 

 there is some millet and sorghum planted for forage. Very httle forage grass used, 

 except crab-grass. Most of the planters use the cow-pea and corn for fodder. 



Grain : The most popular grains in the northern pai't of this State are corn, wheat, 

 oats, and rye. Oats are sown from February to April; yellow and wliite are the 

 most desirable, but the rust-proof varieties are preferred to all others. Tlie best oats 

 for fall sov.'ing are the v.iiite winter and rust proof ; for spring the black, which is 

 sown from February to 3Iarch. Very little spring wheat is sown. There is not 

 wheat enough raised in some parts of this State to supply the demand. In the north- 

 ern part of the State spring wheat has not been sown since 1849. The most popular 

 wheats for red land are the Clawson and Golden Prolific. On sandy soil the Fultz 

 and the Mediterranean, both bearded varieties, succeed well. Wheat and rye are 

 sown from October 1 to December 25. 



Vegetables : All vegetables known to the temperate zone grow here to great per- 

 fection. In the central part of the State cabbage is the most profitable vegetable 

 grown from summer and early fall. Drumhead and Flat Dutch are the favorites. 

 Nearly all kinds of beans are grown. Our best varieties of tomatoes are Livingston's 

 Perfection and Acme. Lettuce, Early Hanson and Salamander. The sugar beet 

 sent us by the Department is considered the best for table use. Sweet potatoes stand 

 first in quantity and value among vegetables. Irish potatoes are raised in large 

 quantities for early market for Northern cities. 



OHIO. 



Grasses and forage i^lants : We need a grass that will stand the drought better 

 than timothy. Experiments with orchard grass very satisfactory; also alfalfa from 

 Department of Agriculture. Alsike is just what we need as a clover; it grows 18 

 inches high and ripens its seed. 



RHODE ISLAND. 



Grasses and forage plants : Tke most desirable grasses are timothy, clover, red- 

 fop, and orchard. Forage plants are red clover, corn fodder, millet, Hungarian, 

 and some sorghum. 



Vegetables : Our season is a long one. We are subject to dry weather from June 

 to September, and farmers are anxious to get their crops in as early as possible to 

 obtain the advantage of spring rains. The variety of garden seed used is gi'eat; 

 onions and carrots are the specialties, red onion preferred. 



SOUTH CAROLINA. 



Grasses and forage plants : The reUance for pasture and hay is on native grasses 

 or rye, which many plant for -vvinter and spring grazing. Herd's grass grows well on 

 low lands, and crab-grass makes a good crop. Bermuda and Texas blue have both 

 been introduced on a small scale. Pea- vines make fine forage. We jilant Bermuda, 

 rescue, orchard, clover, lucerne, and millet in the fall. 



Grain : Wheat is sown from October 1 to December 25. Our best crops are from 

 the red varieties. Oats are sown from July to Slarch. Those sown in .July are 

 twice as productive as those sown in the spring. White winter oats would prove 

 quite as valuable as the favored red if more generally mtroJuced. Red rust-proof 

 oats are considered to be the best. Indian corn has been the main reliance for grain 

 until the importation of the red rust-proof oat. The most popular field corn in 

 South Carolina is gourd-eeed. Dent's early is being introduced. Kaffir corn and 

 Millo maize are being tried. We plant Indian and pop-corn and field peas in Mai'ch 

 or April; tarley and rye in November. 



