XXXVI REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



Russia and Hungary, and has proved to be most excellent for pasture 

 and hay, being perfectly hardy as far north as North Dakota. A hardy 

 alfalfa imported from Turkestan has also proved valuable, being far 

 more resistant to cold and drought than those ordinarily grown and 

 which came originally from much less rigorous climates. 



HOPS AND BARLEY. 



Although hops have been grown in this country for a great many 

 years, they have always been inferior as compared with the best 

 European hops, and as they bring a lower price in the market and are 

 not so desirable as the Bavarian hops, cuttings of the best of the latter 

 were imported last year. These cuttings have been placed in the hop- 

 growing districts of the United States, and promise to be far superior 

 to the ordinary varieties grown, in addition to maturing earlier and 

 extending the picking season. 



American barleys are also inferior to the Bavarian barleys, being too 

 nitrogenous and not sufficiently starchy . The ordinary varieties grown 

 in America are the six-rowed and the four-rowed kinds. The two- 

 rowed kinds of Europe are superior for some uses. The Department 

 therefore imported last year for experimental purposes, in addition 

 to the hops, a quantity of the best Bavarian barleys, and these are now 

 being tried in this country. It is hoped that by growing this improved 

 barley, as well as the superior varieties of hops, the importation of 

 large quantities of some articles of commerce will be done away- with. 



AMERICAN-GROWN EGYPTIAN COTTON. 



Approximately $8,000,000 worth of Egyptian cotton is imported 

 into this country every year,fthere being a special demand for this 

 cotton on account of its high quality. The Department imported 

 some seed of this cotton several years ago, but more recently larger 

 quantities were obtained and placed where the variety seems likely to 

 succeed. Veiy encouraging results have been obtained from the work, 

 and this year a bale of Egyptian cotton, grown from imported seed in 

 southern Georgia, was given a thorough spinning test in a mill in 

 Connecticut, and was pronounced equal to the best imported grades. 

 It is believed that we can grow this crop, but aside from this the cot- 

 tons themselves will be valuable in breeding forms, which in all prob- 

 ability will prove better than their parents. 



AMERICAN DATES. 



Another importation which will probably in time prove of great 

 value to the southwestern part of the country is that of date palms 

 obtained in Africa. A number of years ago a limited importation of 

 these palms was made from Egypt, and, while most of them were lost 

 through adversity of climate, the shipment helped to show the possi- 



