56 RANGE IMPROVEMENT IN CENTRAL TEXAS. 
that year was protracted and very severe, and both varieties suffered 
greatly—the common lucern more than the other. By August the 
plants began to fail, and by September the roots looked to be dead or 
dying. Immediately following the October rains noted above the 
roots revived, and by the middle of November a vigorous growth of 
new foliage had been made, and continued green through the winter. 
Oasis ALFALFA. 
Three plantings of seeds of Oasis alfalfa from Tunis were made in 
the grass garden during 1899. The first, in February, did not give 
good results. On account of several frosts the seeds failed to ger- 
minate. In April seeds were sown in two plots, one in low and rather 
damp soil, the other on higher and dryer land. Excellent stands were 
secured and the growth was vigorous from the start. By July 30 the 
drought was on and the plants were looking wilted. By August 1 the 
leaves had fallen off and the roots appeared to be dead. Immediately 
following rain on October 26, the roots began to put out new foliage, 
which by November 15 was 8 to 12 inches tall. By December, in spite 
of the frosts of November, the plot was green, and continued so during 
the winter. The following spring (1900) both plots developed satis- 
factorily in spite of the long dry and hot spell of that year, stood 
up well, and went through the autumn and winter in good shape. In 
March, 1901, when the station was turned over to the owner, this 
variety was looking more vigorous than either of the others. 
As the result of these several experiments with alfalfa it appears 
reasonably certain (1) that all the varieties named can be grown suc- 
cessfully without irrigation in central Texas; (2) that during seasons 
when the rainfall is abundant the common alfalfa or lucern will do 
better than the Turkestan varieties, and they rather better than the 
oasis alfalfa; (3) that during the long dry spells that are frequently to 
be expected throughout the section the oasis alfalfa will hold its own 
better than the Turkestan varieties, and they better than the common 
lucern; (4) that sandy soils are better for lucern than the heavier soils, 
as they hold moisture longer. 
FLoRIDA BEGGARWEED (Desmodium tortuosum). 
Seeds of this plant were secured direct from Florida and sown in 
the grass garden. An excellent stand was secured. The plants grew 
vigorously, and notwithstanding the ground was upland, very rocky, 
and very thin, the growth was larger than desired; that is to say, the 
plants developed into bushes from 4 to 6 feet tall, the stems being 
woody and altogether too coarse for hay purposes. As the leaves 
shed easily, unless the plants are grown very thick on the ground to 
insure the stems being small, it will not be practicable to bale the hay. 
If grown so that it can be baled to advantage, a great abundance of 
