FOEAGE-CEOP EXPEEIMENTS AT SA:>^ ANTONIO. 



21 



CLOVER. 



So far, only one variety of clover appears to be adapted to this 

 section. This is called shaftal clover (Trifolium suaveolens). 

 Only one test was made with this crop, but the plants made an ex- 

 cellent growth, and this clover may have possibilities as a winter 

 forage, although it is rather susceptible to low temperatures when 

 not well established. Five other clovers have been tested, including 

 two varieties of crimson clover {Trifolium incarnatum) , and one 

 variety of sweet clover {Melilotus alba). The best plat of crimson 

 clover, which was planted in November, 1907, gave a yield of 1,240 

 pounds per acre the following spring. The plat of sweet clover 

 gave a yield of 1,640 pounds per acre. These plats were one-twen- 

 tieth of an acre in size. Neither of the last two clovers was at all 

 promising, 



COWPEAS. 



The cowpea is apparently as well adapted to the section of San 

 Antonio as any other leguminous plant that has been on trial. It 

 is of value as a forage crop, but is particularly useful as a green 

 manure, and in a well-planned rotation there is no more valuable 

 planto One great difficulty with the local soil is its compactness and 

 tendency to run together and bake. Plowing under a crop of cow- 

 peas every three or four years ^\dll do much to make the soil more 

 friable, and if the rotation is well planned the yields should eventu- 

 ally be increased. 



The best results have been obtained from growing cowpeas in 

 cultivated rows about 3 feet apart. No complete failure of this 

 crop has been recorded in the five years it has been grown, and good 

 yields have been secured under favorable conditions. Ordinarily from 

 l^ to 2 J tons of hay per acre are obtained, although under favorable 

 conditions the yields may be greater. Several varieties have been 

 grown, but those that have proved best adapted to local conditions 

 are the Whippoorwill and the Unknown. (PI. Ill, fig. 2.) 



Table XVI. — Yields of coivpeas without irrir/ation. 



S. P.I. 



Variety. 



Yield per acre. 



No. 



1909 



1910 



24919 



Red Ripper 



Tons. 



0.40 



.68 



.72 



.92 



Tons. 



25078 



Groit 





24414 





1.38 



17330 



Chinese Wliippoorwill 





26849 



TTtiTrnnwn . . 



1.93 











[Cir. 106] 



