22 RANGE IMPROVEMENT IN CENTRAL TEXAS. 
blue stem are valuable and worthy of their best attention. They are 
all natives and old-time friends, and their values are too well known 
to need special mention. There are many others of equal or almost 
as great value with which they are not familiar, and they will do well 
to look into their histories and study their characteristics. Of the 
more than one hundred varieties of grasses and forage plants tested in 
the grass garden during the season of 1899-1900, each one here men- 
tioned was demonstrated to have special value. Of the millets tested 
the Japanese barnyard and Shama gave special satisfaction, while the 
pearl, broom-corn, and German millets did very well. Of the forage 
plants not grasses tested the best results were secured with the 
annual saltbush from Australia, three varieties of alfalfa (the common 
lucern, Turkestan, and Oasis), two varieties of the vetches (spring 
vetch and hairy vetch), sulla, sanfoin, several varieties of cowpeas and 
soy beans, velvet bean, teosinte, and many varieties of sorghum. 
Of the experiments made that season with several of the clovers none 
turned out satisfactorily. 
During the third year of station work each of the grasses and forage 
plants tested during the other two years was again tested, with many 
others, and in the statement of general results (p. 37) will be found a 
list, with the most important characteristics of each species tested and 
demonstrated to be of value during the three years. 
RANGE IMPROVEMENT. 
It was not until April 10 that the ground in the pastures was in fair 
condition for harrowing. On that date harrowing was begun, and was 
continued, with some interruptions, until completed. During May, 
June, and July the growth of the grass was thoroughly satisfactory 
in the pastures treated with the disk and iron-tooth harrows, and the 
cattle that were kept on it in the proportions recommended by the 
inspectors were fat, sleek, and healthy. It was never possible during 
the three years that the station work was continued to carry out very 
strictly the definite plans for treating the station pastures as origi- 
nally laid down, but during the twelve months from April, 1899, to 
and including March 31, 1900, they were substantially met. Without 
going into exact details on the subject, it may he stated that, taking 
the year as a whole, the average number of cattle as recommended 
was kept in the pastures. If, on account of scarcity of stock water, 
the number had to be temporarily reduced, the average was well made 
up later when it was deemed prudent to do so. 
In a general way it may be stated that during the period mentioned 
there were held on the station pastures an average of 80 head of mixed 
cattle in the proportion of 1 animal to every 8 acres; and the further 
fact is here suggested that at no time during the year did any of the 
pastures indicate that they were overstocked, but, on the other hand, 
