o4 | RANGE IMPROVEMENT IN CENTRAL TEXAS. 
men and farmers of the section realized the possibilities of their 
ranges and meadows they would place higher money values on their. 
properties. In a 400-acre winter pasture in Mitchell County, owned 
by Mr. B. Van Tuyl, the writer pointed out to the owner 56 dif- 
ferent grasses and forage plants, all natives. In addition to the native 
grasses above enumerated, others well worth the-consideration of 
central Texas stockmen and farmers might be noted, but it is believed 
that a sufficient number have been mentioned to demonstrate to those 
most interested the very great possibilities of the section for live- 
stock purposes. 
It may be wel also to mention that while a fair proportion of the 
grasses not natives tested in the grass garden were found to be valu- 
able for the section, and well worth the consideration of stockmen 
and farmers, a large number were found to be entirely unsuited to its 
climate and soil conditions. 
LEGUMES IN CENTRAL TEXAS. 
Among the most interesting of the experiments made in the grass 
garden were those with several varieties of alfalfa, beggarweeds, 
butterfly pea, the clovers, the cowpeas, the Canada field pea, gram or 
chick pea, the Metcalfe bean, soy bean, sulla, sanfoin, Texas pea, vel- 
vet bean, the vetches, and a native wild bean that specially attracted 
the attention of the writer. These experiments clearly demonstrated 
that the climate and soils of central Texas are favorable to the growth 
and best development of a larger number of the legumes than had 
- previously been supposed. ‘The following notes cover the most impor- 
tant tests. ; 
ALFALFA OR LUCERN ( Medicago sativa). 
During the several years immediately preceding the establishment 
of the grass and forage station (in 1898) farmers of central Texas 
experimented with the common alfalfa. The writer visited several 
farms in the section where tests had been and were being made, but 
as they were on irrigated farms and the station work was instituted 
and conducted distinctly to determine what grasses and forage plants 
could be grown successfully in the section without irrigation, no fur- 
ther mention of them need be made here. Special mention will be 
made, however, in this connection of tests made near Merkel, in Tay- 
lor County, Tex., by Major Garote, a retired United States Army off- 
cer, who is devoting much attention to developing the resources of the 
section as a grass and fruit country. About 1895 he sowed lucern 
in sandy land, and had no difficulty in.securing a good stand. The 
growth was satisfactory, but was kept eaten down by rabbits, which 
swarmed into his alfalfa patch. After trying during two years to 
erow the crop faster than the rabbits could eat it down, he abandoned 
the project and plowed up the roots, except those near a fence row, 
