TESTS OF DEPARTMENT SEEDS. 419 



who experimented with it has not broken up or plowed the patch since 

 plantiDg— -three years ago. The same writer says of Alfali^i, {Medkago 

 sativa :) "It was as'fiue as any common to the ISTorthern and 

 Western States, yielding fine grass, particularly for hogs, since mid- 

 winter." xl farmer in Alabama has succeeded admii'ably in his experi- 

 ments with Italian rye-grass. His beds, prepared March 14, were 

 thickly covered by the middle of June. He has for several years thrown 

 aside exclusive cotton-raising, and resorting to a system of crop rotation, 

 including grasses, has succeeded in raising fair crops of everything 

 planted. An intelligent farmer of South Carolina, referring to his ex- 

 perience of rotating crops in that State, says that cloven-seed rolled in 

 with wlieat will give a crop of stubbl e-hay after the wheat comes off, 

 better tban corn-fodder for cattle. If the land is good, the clover which 

 stands three years yields a larger profit in hay than can be gained by 

 any other crop. Then clover-sod plowed in and put to corn will give 30 

 bu.shels to the acre. Then, after a wheat-crop, let the field stand in 

 clover and rest for three years. 



Mr. John E. Cleveland, of the same State, says that, as a general 

 thing, experiments with clover have not been successful; but in view of 

 several instances of very considerable sttccess, he is satisfied that it can 

 be profitably cultivated. 



Mr. T. W. Hoiloway, of Pomaria, same State, says : 



" Cotton is kin^-" in tho South ; but I <iui pleased to siiy tliat this idea is fast giviug 

 way to a diversilicd agriculture, considered as the only means of success in those sec- 

 tions adapted to the growth of grasses. Last May I mowed from two and one-half 

 acres, stiff red upland, 10,000 pounds of fiuo red-clover hay. This instance of success 

 has induced the purchase by our farmers of over 200 pounds of seed, and so far is likely 

 to iH'ove satisfactory — and the cry now is for red-clover seed. 



The cidture of red clover is stated to be doing much for the red lands 

 in Greene County, Georgia. A report from San Antonio, Texas, shows 

 that Alfiilfa clover grows luxuriantly, being well adapted to the soil and 

 climate. The writer says that he cuts it every two mouths and feeds it 

 to his young stock. Italian rye-grass has also proved an acquisition. 

 In some parts of Texas, particularly in the stock-growing region, the 

 native grasses are fast disappearing, on account of the vast herds which 

 have pastured on tliem. Cultivation of other varieties has been ren- 

 dered imperative since stock-growing is rendered less profitable because 

 feeding must be resorted to. Alfalfa clover grows very copiously. Ital- 

 ian rye-grass is reported upon favorably from Montgomery County. In 

 this county other varieties, also, arc being tried, with excellent promise 

 of success. 



Mr. J. F. Rollins, of Fort George, Florida, asking for a plant that will 

 take the place of the wild grasses, and furnish stock ^vith forage, recites 

 the fact that he has a large plantation, consisting of an entire sea-island ; 

 and says, he is satisfied that many of the old fields now under cultiva- 

 tion would be much more profitable if planted in grass or clover, and 

 devoted to stock, than nuder the present system of annual croi)s ; and 

 avers that what is true in his case is equally true all over the South. 



Italian rye-grass, sown on a deep sandy loam, in Lincoln County, 

 Mississippi, January 13, was ready to cut for hay in May ; but was 

 allowed to stand until June with a view to gathering the seed. From 

 the quart sown one bushel and one peck were gathered. The grass 

 does well in that climate, answering well for hay and for green-soiling. 



llelatiug to the new system of cidture to which attention is being 

 turned with a view to a redemption of the worn-out fields of the South, 

 •Awd :.ii enhancement of her resources, several examples were given in 



