WORK OF THE SAN ANTONIO EXPERIMENT FARM IN 1912. 17 
ORNAMENTAL PLANTS. 
Ornamental trees and shrubs suitable for the San Antonio section 
have been tried in large numbers. Particular attention is also being 
given to native trees and shrubs not already known or whose desir- 
able qualities are not fully appreciated. In addition to the native 
trees and shrubs, about 100 varieties of roses and a collection of bam- 
boos, palms, yuccas, agaves, and many others have been assembled. 
FORAGE CROPS. 
The results of all the forage-crop experiments conducted at the 
farm from 1908 to 1912, inclusive, have been assembled and published 
as Circular No. 106 of the Bureau of Plant Industry. This circular 
contains an extensive discussion of the results with the forage crops 
tested during the past five years. For this reason, only brief men- 
tion will be made here of the main features of the work in 1912. 
Among the more conspicuous new forage crops that are particu- 
larly well adapted to the section may be mentioned Canada field peas 
and Sudan grass. So far Canada field peas have given a higher hay 
yield than oats, and apparently there is at least one variety that will 
stand nearly, if not quite, as much cold. Last winter there were on 
trial three lots, known as S. P. I. Nos. 30307, 18806, and 30134. Dur- 
ing the winter there was a minimum temperature of 15° F. Nos. 
30307 and 18806 were almost completely killed out, but, while the 
plants on the other planting (No. 30134) were killed nearly to the 
ground, new growth was put out and a grain yield of 14 bushels per 
acre was obtained. As a winter cover crop this is the most promising 
that has been tested. 3 
Excellent results were obtained with Sudan grass in both 1911 and 
1912. The yield of Sudan grass in 1912 was 5.66 tons per acre, based 
on the weights from a one-tenth-acre plat. Sorghum planted in the 
same way on the rotation fields gave a yield of 4.68 tons per acre. 
A rate-of-seeding test consisting of seven one-tenth-acre plats of 
Sumac sorghum in 8-inch drills was conducted, as there is a variance 
of opinion among farmers as to the best rate, quality of forage and 
yield considered. The rates varied from 26 to 174 pounds per acre. 
The highest yield was obtained from the plat seeded at the rate of 
88 pounds per acre, or slightly more than 1} bushels. The quality of 
the forage was apparently equal to that produced by the heavier 
seedings and better than that in the thinner seedings. 
Japanese sugar cane, which has been grown here for the past 
three seasons, gave a yield in 1912 of 13.08 tons per acre, the average 
yield for the past three years being 12.84 tons per acre. This crop is 
grown under irrigation, 
84899°—Cir. 120—13——3._. 
