28 RANGE IMPROVEMENT IN CENTRAL TEXAS. 
failures, under such conditions, but has the courage to push on in his 
experimental work, whether successful or not, through an average 
period of three years, is almost certain to secure results that will 
abundantly repay him for his expenditure of time, labor, money, and 
patience. : 
It would be difficult to imagine more unfavorable conditions than 
those which existed for such work as was prosecuted on the Govern- . 
ment station near Abilene during the first two years, but by persist- 
ence, and taking advantage of the lessons forced on those engaged in 
it, final results were secured which amply compensated for all the 
trials and tribulations experienced. The central Texas stockman and 
farmer who will lay out for himself a three years’ plan for experi- 
mental work with a view to range improvement, and will persevere 
through any three years, will succeed. 
GRASS-GARDEN WORK. 
One of the lessons learned from the former year’s work was that for 
experimental purposes it was not best to sow any seeds broadcast, but 
in drills with space sufficient between the drills to admit of cultivating. 
Hence it was that when the season for the third year’s work came 
on this plan was adopted and carried out to the entire satisfaction of 
all parties interested. As in the autumn of 1899 the garden ground 
(except where certain perennials, such as the alfalfas, sulla, sanfoin, 
and the vetches, which, having been originally sown in plots, were 
not to be disturbed) had been broken as deeply as practicable in the 
fall of 1900, in order to catch and hold the fall and winter rains and get 
the full benefit of the winter frosts. It may not be out of place in this 
connection to state that as a result of this treatment, when the time 
arrived to begin the spring planting, the ground was in excellent con- 
dition to receive seeds. 
A FAILURE NOTED. 
During the month of January, 1901, a line of experiments was tried 
that promised good results, but turned out, in a sense, disappointing. 
It had been noted that the alfalfas and clovers, especially the latter, 
sown during the spring months in the former years had suffered very 
much during the hot weather of May and June and through July, and 
August. It was thought that if these seeds were sown at the same 
time and together with such grains as wheat and rye the young plants 
would be protected from the hot sun by the higher stalks of the latter. 
Carrying out this idea, 83 rows of several varieties of rye, barley, and 
winter wheat, each mixed with seeds of one of the alfalfas or clovers, 
were planted. For instance, red-clover seeds were mixed with sev- 
eral varieties of wheat, rye, or barley; and in like manner other clover 
and alfalfa seeds. This work was begun January 4 and was continued 
up to and including January 31. In nearly every case a fair stand of 
