174 HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 
1 have finished all I care to say to the committee. I have tried to 
ive you some little insight into the problems we are working with. 
e think they are important problems; we would not be fit for the 
work unless we did think that, and we hope that you, gentlemen, will 
think the same way. 
Mr. Ropry. What experiments have been made in the production 
of tannic acid? 
Mr. Spruuman. There has been some work done with that; important 
work. 
Mr. Roper. It has been known for many years in the West that 
there is a plant that grows, and has been propagated to some extent, 
that has a larger percentage of tannic acid than either hemlock or 
other tanning barks. At Deming, N. Mex., a few years ago, they 
built a small factory. It is a root that looks a good deal like a sweet 
potato, and they get the acid out of it and put it in small boxes, and 
use it in tanneries all over the nation. That isan industry in the West 
that could be enlarged almost indefinitely. 
Mr. Scorr. I would like to ask a question or two about blue grass. 
Mr. Srrtitman. Blue grass is the most important pasture grass in 
the United States north of the Ohio River and a small space in Ken- 
tucky. Its best development is in Kentucky—one little circle in 
Kentucky. 
The CHarrman. About five counties. 
Mr. Sprutman. Five or six counties, and on the fringe of a few 
others. In Iowa, Missouri, Ulinois, Michigan, New York, and New 
England the blue grass is a magnificient pasture grass. 
Mr. Scott. It is the handsomest Jawn grass we have, but in Kansas 
we find great difficulty in keeping a sand of it. 
Mr. Sprtiman. You find the same difficulty in Washington City. 
Mr. Scorr. I fancy that must be the case for the reason that I see 
them nursing the lawns all the time. What is the principal reason 
why it is hard to keep a blue-grass lawn here in Washington? 
Mr. Spriman. Because of the lack of magnesia and lime in the soil. 
In Kansas it is because of the irregularity of the climate and smaller 
rainfalls. 
Mr. Scorr. Would fertilization help us in Kansas? 
Mr. Sprutman. It would help, but it would not make it what it is in 
Kentucky, Missouri, and Illinois. 
Mr. Scorr. What would you recommend? Fertilizer? 
Mr. Srrtman. Complete fertilizer, one containing all three ele- 
ments of plant food, at the rate of about 400 pound per acre per year. 
Mr. Scorr. Supplied by a manufactory? 
Mr. Sprmuuman. Yes; also a good covering of barnyard maunure, 
barely covering it, and raked off in the spring. 
Mr. Scorr. What is the best time to sow it? 
Mr. Srrttman. The best time to sow it would be moderately early 
in the fall, but if you happen to have a hard winter after that it would 
die. Pe I should say early in the spring is the best time to 
sow it. 
Mr. Scorr. Do you advise sowing any other seed with it? 
Mr. Spmiman. Yes; J should think I would sow redtop and white 
clover. 1 was up in the city of Buffalo last summer, and I saw the 
prettiest lawns I ever saw in my life. Redtop is the kind of grass 
that is not very common in your section of country, but it is a grass 
