10 



BULLKTIN 665, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Fig. 6. — Sorghum for hay is of considerable importance. This field yielded nearly 

 five tons of cured hay per acre. 



Sorghum (see fig. 6) is the principal hay crop. Practically every 

 farm produces a small acreage for home consumption. The average 

 yield is nearly 5 tons of cured hay per acre ; the cost of production is 

 $8 per ton. 



Stock beets are meeting a considerable demand for winter and 

 spring stock feed (see fig. 7). These are particularly adapted to hog 

 consumption. This feed averages 28 tons per acre at a cost of 

 slightly less than $2 per ton. 



Oats (Texas red-rust proof) (see fig. 8) are raised for pasture 

 only; the crop seldom matures grain in this climate. These are 

 planted in the early fall and are pastured from six to eight weeks 

 later. With proper irrigation oats are pastured during three or four 

 intervals through the winter, sometimes lasting into the summer. 

 Not infrequently thej^ are cut and fed as a soiling crop. 



Among other feed crops that appear successful are Sudan grass 

 and Rhodes grass, both of which may be utilized for either hay or 

 pasture. 



Cowpeas have received little attention up to the present, but a 

 number of truck farmers find them very profitable as a green-manure 

 crop to be plowed under. In a few cases the crop has been utilized 

 as hay, very satisfactory yields being made. 



Cotton has been produced in the region for many years both under 

 irrigation and by dry-farming methods. Since the advent of the 

 boll weevil the crop has not been generally successful, although occa- 

 sional crops show very satisfactory yields. A yield of more than a 

 bale per acre is common when the boll weevil does not attack the crop. 



Attempts have been made at production of many other truck, 

 staple, and special crops with indifferent success. A sufficient num- 



