4 FARM GRASSES OF THE UNITED STATES 



group consists of the cotton-producing States, in which 

 the area of grass lands is less than 5 per cent, of the 

 whole. This group of States was so unfortunate in 

 their early history as to find their lands and climate 

 adapted to a crop that was highly profitable, but which 

 returned nothing to the soil. Livestock farming and 

 grass culture were almost wholly negledled. As the 

 lands wore out, resort was had to commercial fertil- 

 izers; but these did not add humus to the soil, and the 

 mechanical condition of the soil has reached that stage 

 where rain washes it so badly that it is necessary to 

 terrace in order to keep the soil from washing away. 

 The results achieved by many progressive farmers in 

 the South show conclusively that a proper use of 

 grasses and stable manure render terracing unneces- 

 sary except on decidedly rolling lands, and make the 

 soil highly productive. Diversified farming is rapidly 

 coming into favor in the South, and the area devoted 

 to hay and pasture crops is increasing. This undoubt- 

 edly means a return to permanent prosperity. 



Hay production, generally speaking, is not an im- 

 portant industry in the South. It has become impor- 

 tant in a few localities. In the Red River Valley in 

 Louisiana and Arkansas a considerable area of alfalfa 

 is grown, and the area devoted to this valuable crop 

 is rapidly extending. On a narrow strip of prairie 

 soil extending from northeastern Mississippi through 

 central Alabama and terminating near Macon, Georgia, 

 Johnson grass has long been grown in considerable 

 areas. The same grass is grown more or less exten- 

 sively on similar soil over much of central Texas. 

 Alfalfa thrives abundantly on these black soils, and is 



