thousands of acres in the State covered at the present time with a 

 scattering growth of timber, largely scrub oak, that are capable of 

 producing excellent pasturage and bringing in annually many times 

 the income which is received from them under the present conditions. 

 One of the important questions is how to convert such lands into 

 pastures in the cheapest and most practical way. Another problem, 

 and one in many respects closely connected with the preceding, is 

 that of finding suitable grasses for the Ozark region in the south- 

 western part of the State. The third problem, and one much more 

 local than either of the other two, is that of finding suitable grasses 

 and forage crops for the overflowed region in the southeastern corner 

 of the State. All things considered, it would seem that the ques- 

 tion which best lends itself to cooperative investigation, and the one 

 of paramount interest to the people of this State, as well as to the 

 entire Mississippi Valley, is that of the formation, care, and man- 

 agement of meadows and pastures. 



ARKANSAS. 



From the standpoint of grass and forage plant investigations this 

 State presents some peculiar problems, not so much on account of 

 the kinds of forage crops needed, but because of the agricultural 

 conditions and practices which prevail throughout the greater part 

 of the State. There is less need under the present system of agri- 

 culture for permanent meadows and pastures than for forage crops 

 that can be grown without interfering with the regular crops, of 

 which cotton is the principal one. and that will improve the condition 

 of the land, which in many sections is seriously depleted because of 

 continual cropping. The problem in the cotton-growing section is. if 

 anything, more of an educational than an experimental one. The 

 people have grown this crop so long that they are very loath to 

 undertake the cultivation of any other, and it is only the depletion 

 of their lands that is forcing them to a consideration of the possible 

 improvement of these by means of annual forage crops, such as cow- 

 peas, vetches, and clovers. The northwestern section ^t' the State 

 is largely devoted to fruit growing, with conditions similar to tl 

 obtaining in southwestern Missouri. In this region the principal need 

 is forage crops that can be grown in the orchard for Boil cover and 

 for the improvement of fertility. At the State experiment station 

 excellent results have already been secured with orchard gl 

 Bmooth brome, tall meadow oat-grass, ami meadow fescue for 

 meadows and pastures in the better cla^< o\' soils, and with Bermuda 

 in the sandy pine lands. There is. however, so far as the greater 

 part of the people is concerned, relatively little inclination to attempt 

 to grow permanent meadows and pastures. In the opinion 

 Director Bennett the most immediately important problems for the 



