SEED DIVISION. 65 



Vegetables: Spring plowing begins as soon after the 1st of January as is practi- 

 cable. Turnips, parsnips, and carrots are planted in the fall; cabbage, collards, 

 garden peas, beans, beets, salsify, and potatoes in the spring; in fact, all kinds of 

 vegetables are planted here except celery and cauliflower; never knev\^ them to grow 

 successfully in this locality. All vegetables, early and late, with proper attention, 

 will make two crops, and feome three, in this climate. 



Department seeds are sought after and always give satisfaction. The sowino- of 

 seed is not usually judiciously done, and in this climate all vegetables deteriorate 

 after the second year. Northern seed for the Southern climate insures for the year 

 choice vegetables. All imported seed of the root crops to be preferred. 



TENNESSEE. 



Grasses and forage plants : Blue-grass, red-top, orchard, timothy, clover, and 

 herd's grass, and common red clover are grown more than any others. Other grasses 

 are being rapidly introduced. Herd's gi-ass and clover mixed make the best grass 

 for grazing, and should be sown the 15th of November. Red clover grows to per- 

 fection. Japan clover grows all over the country and is valuable as feed for stock. 



Amber cane is becoming more pojjular every year as a feed for mules and cows. 

 The Russian sheep fodder (yellow lupin) proved a failure with us. A few farmers 

 did their spring plowing in December last, and their crops are decidedly the best in 

 the country. For hay, red clover, herd's grass, and timothy are chiefly used. Be- 

 sides these there are large quantities of sorghum and German millet grown for win- 

 ter feeding. Clover, timothy, and herd's grass are sown in February and March. 



Grain: Winter wheat is sown from the 1st of September to the loth of Novem- 

 ber. The varieties principally sown are the Fultz, Odessa, and Red May. German 

 amber is also much liked. Red IMediterranean is also a favorite, and is not liable to 

 damage from rust. Red and black oats are the favorite varieties, and are sown in 

 February and March. Oats, if sown in October and not winter-killed, yield the 

 best results. In Central Tennessee Indian corn is oiu* principal crop, and is planted 

 from April 1 to June 1. In the southeastern part of the State the farmers usually 

 commence spring plowing for the corn crop about January 15. Corn planted in 

 March gives the best results. Corn and cotton are the principal farm crops. Our 

 corn is a general mixture, the white being used for bread and the yellow for stock. 



Vegetables : All varieties of vegetables grow to perfection here. Centi-al Tennessee 

 is peculiarly adapted to the growing of corn and potatoes, both Irish and sweet. 

 Turnips and onions produce ^ood crops. Cabbage is uncertain. Peas, both garden 

 and field, do well. Wethersheld onions, Flat Dutch cabbage, early and late purple- 

 top, and white-globe turnip. Acme and Livingston tomato, perpetual lettuce, pole 

 and Valentine snap beans are fine varieties. Morrowfat and early May peas are the 

 best. Crook-neck squash is very early and of fine flavor. 



TEXAS. 



Grasses and forage x>lants : The cultivation of grasses in Southeastern Texas is 

 very limited, most of them failures, until the introduction of Johnson grass from 

 Alabama, which proved a great success for horses and cattle, and is considered equal 

 to the best imported hay. It is not affected by drought; grows from 3 to 4 feet high. 

 It is good where you want exclusively a hay farm. In Southern Texas we have a 

 gi'ass known as Texas-rye, which promises well as a winter and spring pasturage. 

 It is hardy, standing the coldest weather, and would prove valuable for hay if prop- 

 erly managed. Grasses do not succeed in Western Texas on account of long droughts. 

 The Bermuda succeeds only when planted on bottom-lands. Rye and sorghum afford 

 fine green forage for hogs. Rescue-grass is a good variety for -winter pasture. 



Grain : In this climate the most successful farmers prepare then* corn land in No- 

 vember and December, securing the benefits of light winter rains. Corn is consid- 

 ered the most valuable grain. EgyjDtian or dhoiira is the most valuable, as it stands 

 the dry weather remarkably well. It is diflicult to procure the seed. Broom corn 

 is a paying crop, yielding two crops per year. The second one is the better. In the 

 northern section all wheat is sown in the fall. The White May and Mediterranean 

 are the varieties that suffer the least from rust. Nicaragua wheat is a good variety. 

 It averages 35 bushels to the acre. Both red and black oats are popidar and suj^erior 

 in yield to other varieties. There is a great need of a rust-proof variety. Although 

 peanuts are a paying crop, averaging $2 per bushel in market and yielding well, still 

 they are but little grown. 



Vegetables: All varieties of vegetables do well here when properly cultivated; the 

 early varieties succeed best. Gardening is usually commenced about the 14th of 



5 AG.— '86 



