GRASSES IN ARKANSAS 355 



amount of oats or wheat. On most soils in the South vetch needs 

 to be inoculated. For this purpose one may use soil from a 

 spot in the garden where English peas have grown or from a 

 field of any kind of vetch. 



Crimson Clover. Crimson clover is a winter-growing annual, the 

 seed of which at the rate of 15 to 20 pounds per acre should be 

 sown in September and thoroughly inoculated with soil from a 

 field where either crimson, red, white or Carolina clover has 

 grown and produced abundant tubercles the year before. The 

 seed may be sown broadcast among the growing cotton plants 

 and lightly covered, or, when hay-making is the end in view, the 

 seed may be sown on well-prepared land. This plant should be 

 cut early for hay to avoid the danger sometimes reported from 

 the use of over-ripe hay. This danger consists in the formation 

 of balls in the stomach of horses from the matted hair that de- 

 velops around the ripening seed. The pasture season of crimson 

 clover is comparatively short. Its greatest value is for soil-im- 

 provement. 



Soybeans. This plant is rapidly growing into importance in 

 the South, but has not yet played a prominent part in southern 

 agriculture. Probably the best use is as a crop to be hogged off 

 while the pods are forming and after seed formation is com- 

 pleted. It also makes a nutritious, though rather coarse hay. The 

 plant is of about as great value as the cowpea for soil-improve- 

 ment, though apparently requiring somewhat better land. It is 

 adapted to a wide range of soils and of climate. The foregoing 

 are arranged in order of importance as I conceive their rank. 



ARKANSAS. Prof. Martin Nelson, Agronomist of the Arkansas 

 Experiment Station, Fayetteville, Ark. : In naming the grasses that 

 are most suited to Arkansas, I may say, first, as our best yielder 

 for hay purposes and for pasture as well, I will name Johnson 

 grass. I am aware that people of the South are afraid of this 

 grass, but not all, fortunately, are timid. Johnson grass belongs 

 to the Sorghum family. It spreads and perpetuates itself not only 

 by seed but by a jointed rootstalk. This grass puts forth a vig- 

 orous growth, stands drouth well and can be cut for hay several 

 times during the season. The yield is heavy. The same charac- 

 teristics that make it suitable for meadow make it suitable for pas- 

 ture also. The other grass especially adapted to this state is Ber- 



