55 

 Clarke Lewis, Cliftonville, Noxubee County, Mississippi : 



It grows in the Gulf States on sandy land and furnishes abundant forage of fair 

 quality on poor soil. There is none in this section. 



W. H. Nevill, Bhmsville, Miss. : 



Does well in the southern half of the Gulf States. 



J. H. Murdock, Bryan, Brazos County, Central Texas : 



It is grown here, and stands drought very well on our light sandy soils, and makes 

 good pasture in its season. 



Mr. Matt. Coleman, Leesburg, Sumter County, Florida, in J 878, wrote 

 to the Department : 



The tradition is, that when the Spanish evacuated Pensacola this plant was dis. 

 covered there by the cavalry horses feeding upon it eagerly. Five years ago I pro- 

 cured some of the seed, and have since grown it in my orange groves as a forage plant 

 and fertilizer. It grows on thin pine land 4 to 6 feet in length, branching and form- 

 ing a thick mat, which affords all the mulch my trees require. It requires two days 

 sun to dry it, and its sweet hay is relished by horses and cattle. The white bloom 

 opens in the morning and closes at evening, and is visited by bees and butterflies. 



WASHING OF THE SOIL. 



The question was asked in the circular whether washing of the soil 

 was troublesome in the various localities, and if so, what remedies had 

 been applied. 



The replies show that throughout the larger portion of all the Southern 

 States, except Florida and Louisiana, and in parts of those States, 

 washing of the soil is one of the greatest hindrances to successful agri- 

 culture. 



Almost no remedies have been attempted in the past, except throw- 

 ing brush in the washes and turning out the land to common when it 

 has so far lost its soil and become filled with gullies as to be no longer 

 profitable for cultivation. Recently, however, terracing and hillside 

 ditching, especially the former, are being practiced by many of the best 

 farmers. The terraces are recommended to be made on a perfect level, 

 at every fall of about 3 feet, mostly by means of a plow, throwing the 

 earth down hill. When finished the terrace is level, and varies in width 

 at different points according to the slope of the land. 



The edge of the terrace is sometimes set in Bermuda or some other 

 grass, but often allowed to grow up to weeds. Sometimes only slight 

 or rough terraces are made, and their position changed from year to 

 year. Sometimes strips of grass are left at suitable intervals, running 

 across the hill, to serve the purpose of a terrace. Whether terraces are 

 made or not, it is recommended to run the rows crosswise of the hills 

 or circular, so as to be at all points nearly at the same level. Some- 

 times, instead of terraces, ditches are made across the face of the hill 

 at a slight fall, about 1 inch to every 10 feet. The ditch should have 

 broad bottoms and as few sharp curves as possible, and should be kept 

 well sodded. 



