BOTANICAL DIVISION 



Prepared by Dr. Geokge Vasey. 



GRASS EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



For several years past the Department of Agriculture has been making 

 special investigation of the grasses of tbe West, particularly those of 

 the arid districts, with a view of ascertaining what are the prevailing 

 or prominent species, what is their range of distribution as to locality 

 and soil, what their value for grazing purposes, and what kinds offer a 

 reasonable prospect ol being valuable for cultivation. Great interest 

 has been felt in this subject both by farmers and cattlemen, and Gov- 

 ernment aid has been invoked for the purpose of conducting suitable 

 experiments, and such aid has been strongly recommended by the Com- 

 missioner of Agriculture. 



In response to these requests, Congress, a few^ months ago, made a 

 moderate appropriation for the purpose of establishing grass experiment 

 stations. It was determined that one of these stations should be located 

 w 7 est of the 100th meridian. Commissioner Column immediately ap- 

 pointed Dr. Vasey, botanist of the Department, to proceed to the West 

 to select a location. After a careful investigation he made a selection 

 at Garden City, in southwestern Kansas, where a public spirited citi- 

 zen made a free lease to the Government, for five years, of 1G0 acres of 

 land on the high prairie two miles uorth of the city. This is so located 

 that irrigation can be employed on such portion of the land as may be 

 desirable. The chief object of the station is to experiment with grasses 

 aud forage plants, both native and foreign — with any kinds, in fact, 

 which give promise of utility and adaptation to the climatic conditions 

 of the arid plains, and furnish a substitute for the scanty pasturage 

 now existing. This is a great necessity. In order to secure the perma- 

 nent settlement of this portion of country, it should be ascertained 

 what can be depended upon in the occupation and cultivation of the dry 

 uplands where irrigation can not be applied. It is a vital question, af- 

 fecting the interests of thousands of settlers over a great extent of 

 country. 



Upon the location of the station the Commissioner appointed Prof. 

 J. A. Sewall, of Denver, as superintendent of the station ; and he has 

 up to the present time had 80 acres fenced, 40 acres plowed, a quan- 



