TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN NO. 200 DECEMBER, 1916 PROGRESS REPORT, SUBSTATTON NO. 4, BEAUMONT, TEXAS 1909-1914 B. YOUNGBLOOD, DIRECTOR, ' COLLEGE STATION, BRAZOS COUNTY, TEXAS. A29-1216-10m TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN NO. 200 DECEMBER, 1916 PROGRESS REPORT, SUBSTATION NO. 4, BEAUMONT, TEXAS 1909-1914 I-I. H. LAUDE, B. S., SUPERINTENDENT B. YOUNGBLOOD, DIRECTOR, COLLEGE STATION, BRAZOS COUNTY, TEXAS. AUSTIN, TEXAS: VQYN BOECKMANN-JONES 00., PRINTERS, 1917 AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS W. B. BIZZELL, A. M. D. C. L.. President TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION ‘ BOARD OF DIRECTORS hi L. J. HART, San Antonio, Vice—Presiden E. H. AsTIN, Bryan . . . . . . . . . . .. . J. S. WILLIAMS, Paris .............. .. T. E. BATTLE, Marlin ................................. .. H. A. BREIHAN, Bartlett ............................. .. J. R. KUBENA, Fayetteville ...................... .. W. A. MILLER, JR., Amarillo .................. .. A. B. DAvIDsON, Cuero ............................................ .. ORN I. GUION, Ballinger, President. ..................... .. ......... ..Term expires 1919 ..Term expires 1919 .....Term expires 1919 ...... ..Term expires 1917 ...... ..Term expires 1917 ......... ..Term expires 1917 ......... ..Term expires 1921 ............... ..Term expires 1921 .................................................... ..Term expires 1921 MAIN STATION COMMITTEE L. J. HART, Chairman J. S. WILLIAMS W. A. MILLER, Jr, GOVERNING BOARD, STATE SUBSTATIONS P. L. DOwNs, President, Temple ............................ .. CHARLES ROGAN, Vice-President, Austin... W. P. HOERY, Beaumont ............................. .. J. E. BOOo-ScOTT, Coleman .................................... .. .................................................... ..Term expires 1.919 ...... ..Term expires 1919 .....Term expires 1917 .................................................... ..Term expires 1921 STATION STAFF* ADMINISTRATION B. YOUNGBLOOD, M. S., Director A. B. CONNER, B. S., Vice I/‘irector CI-IAs. A. FELKER, Chief Clerk A. S. WARE, Secretary DIVISION OF VETERINARY SCIENCE _ M. FRANcIs, D. V. S., Veterinarian in Charge _ H. SCHMIDT, D. V. M., Veterinarian DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY _ G. S. FRAPS, Ph. D., Chemist in Charge; State Chemist _ W. T. P. SPROTT, B. S., Assistant Chemist H. LEBEsON. M. S., Assistant Chemist CnARLEs BUCHWALD, M. S., Assistant Chemist DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE NEss, M. S., Horticulturist in Charge W. S. HOTcRKIss, Horticulturist DIVISION OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY 'J. C. BuRNs, B. S., Animal Husbandman, Feeding Investigations J. M. JoNEs, A. M., Animal Husbandman, Breeding Investigations DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY F. . PADDOOK, M. S., Entomologist in Charge; State Entomologist H. . REINRARD, B. S., Assistant Ento- mologist County Apiary Inspectors R. C. Abernathy, Ladonia; William Atch- ley, Mathis; J. W. E. Basham, Barstowf Victor Boeer, Jpurdanton; T. W. Burle- son, Waxahachie; W. C. Collier, Goliad; E. W. Cothran, Roxton; G. F. Davidson, Pleasanton; John Donegan, Seguin; A. Graham, Milano; H. Grossen- bacher, San Antonio; J. B. King, Bates- ville; N. G. LeGear, Waco; R. A. Little, Pearsall: H. L. Mofield, Hondo; M. C. Stearns, Brady; S. H. Stephens, Uvalde; M. B. T ly, Victoria; Jas. W. Traylor, Enloe; R. E. Watson, Heidenheim-er; W. H. White, Greenville; W. P. Bankston, Buffalo; F. C. Belt, Ysleta. DIVISION OF AGRONOMY A. . CONNER, B. S., Agronomist in Charge A. H. LEIDIGH, B. S., Agronomist LOUIS WERMELSKIRCHEN, B. S., Agronomist DIVISION OF PLANT PATHOLOGY AND , PHYSIOLOGY J. J. TAUBENHAUS, Ph. D., Plant Patholo- gist arid Physiologist in Charge A. D. JOHNSON, B. S., Graduate Assistant DIVISION OF POULTRY HUSBANDRY R. N. HARVEY, B. S., Poultryman in Charge DIVISION OF FORESTRY J. H. FOSTER, M. F., Forester in Charge; State Forester DIVISION OF PLANT BREEDING E. P. HUMBERT, Ph. D., Plant Breeder in Charge J. S. MOGFORD, B. S., Graduate Assistant DIVISION OF DAIRYING J. HARPER, M. S., Dairyman in Charge DIVISION OF FEED CONTROL SERVICE JAMES SULLIVAN, Executive Secretary J. H. ROGERs, Inspector . H. WOOD, Inspector . H. WOLTERS, Inspector . D. PEARcE, Inspector . M. WIcKERs, Inspector T. B. REEsE, Inspector SUBSTATION NO. 1: BeeviHe, Bee County E. E. BINEORD, B. S., Superintendent ewes ' SUBSTATION N0. 2: Troup, Smith County W. S. HOTCHKISS, Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 3: Angleton, Brazoria County N. E. WINTERs, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 4: Beaumont Jetferson County H. H. LAUDE, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 5: Temple, Bell County D. T. KILLOUGH, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 6: Denton, Denton County V. L. CORY, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 7: Spur, Dickens County R. E. DICKSON, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 8: Lubbock, Lubbock ounty R. E. KARPER, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 9: Pecos, Reeves County J. \V. JACKSON, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 10: (Feeding and Breeding Substation), College Station, Brazos Coun E. R. SPENCE, B. S., Animal Husbandman in Charge of Farm _ _ G. F. JORDAN, B. S., Scientific Assistant SUBSTATION NO. ll: Nacogdoches, Nacog- doches County _ G. T. McNEss, Superintendent **SUBSTATION NO. 12: Chillicothe, Harde- man County R. \V. EDWARDS, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 13: Sonora, Sutton County E. M. PETERs, B. S., Acting Superintendent CLERICAL ASSISTANTS J. M. SCHAEDEL, Stenogra her DAIsY LEE, Registration (flier/c W. F. CHRISTIAN, Stenographer ELIZABETH WALKER, Stenographer E. E. KILBORN, Stenographer *As of December 1, 1916. C. L. DURsT, Mailing Clerk A. T. JACKSON, Stenographer \V. E. TURNER, Stenographer CARL ABELL, Scientific Assistant **In cooperation with United States Department of Agriculture. CONTENTS. . PAGE Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 History and Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Rice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Seeding Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8 Rotations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .j . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 11 Varieties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 11 Control of Red Rice, Weeds and Grass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Forage Crops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 13 Sorghums . = . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 . . . . . . 14 Japanese Sugar Cane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Cotton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Corn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 16 Legumes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 16 Home Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 16 Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1'7’ [Blank Page in Original Bulletin] PROGRESS REPORT OF SUBSTATCION NO. 4, BEAUMONT, TEXAS, 1909-1914. H. H. LAUDE, B. S., SnucnrxTExmcxT. This report describes briefly the history and development of Sub- station No. 4, ’l‘exas Experiment Station, and also discusses the work and results obtained from tl1e establishment of the substation through the crop season of 1914. The substation consists of 100 acres of land six miles west of Beau.- mont, Jefferson county, Texas. This is near the southeastern corner of the State. i The permanent improvements of Substation No. 4 consist of a. super- intendents cottage, office and laboratory, two tenant houses, barn, machine shed and a seed house. In January}, 1912, the cooperation of the Bureau of Plant Industry, Ofiice of Cereal Investigations, United States Department of Agricul- ture, was secured and the work of the substation Was conducted co- operatively by the Texas Experiment Station and the Federal Depart- ment of Agriculture until 1914, when cooperative work was discon- tinued. During the period of cooperation the farm was known as “Cooperative Rice Experiment Station’? At the expiration of the cooperative period the name was changed to “Texas Substation No. l.” PRECIPITATION. The rainfall in this part of Texas is well distributed throughout all seasons of the year, as indicated by Table 1. . TABLE 1. Normal Average Monthly Rainfall, Beaumont, Texas. In inches. Aug. l Sept. Jan. Feb. Mar. April May June July Oct. Nov. Dec. Total. 3.70‘ 2.92 2.96 3.30 4.45 3.25 3.00 3.75 4.35 45.09 3.50l 4.16‘ 5.20 l The substation lies between the Southern Pacific Railway on the south and Frisco Railway on the north. The Beaumont-Houston shell road extends along the east or front of the substation. The soils on the station are of the Crourleyr and Lake Charles series and are fairly representative of the soils throughout the rice belt. Most of the soil on the substation is a heavy’ dark clay, though some of it is a. silty clay. The substation has an elevation ranging from 26.5 to 2.9.8 feet above sea level. Previous to the establishment of the substation the field hadbeen planted in rice. It was what is generally termed an “old rice field.” Red rice, weeds and grass, common to old rice fields, were present. It had a border levee and contour levees extending irreg- ularly across it. The natural drainage of the area was considerably‘ 'I.‘EXAs AGIJCULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. e25 wfinoflz dmsom woo? dbwm ¢m§8o JmQOHSMOQGWH doEOluH 23E PRooRuss Rsrour or TEXAS SUBSTATION No. 4. ‘ '2' obstructed. The coutour levees across the field prevented normal drain- age. The shell road grade on the east and the railway grade 0n the south side were very effective barriers to drainage, leaving the west side open for water to flow onto the farm without adequate opportunity for it to flow off. a _ Because of existing conditions, the principal effort during the first years of the substation’s existence was directed toward improvement of field conditions and the arrangement of plats so that accurate tests might be conducted. The contour levees Were plowed down and the land ‘was divided into regular-shaped areas, separated by roads and levees, so that irrigated and non-irrigated crops could be growing on adjacent blocks at the same time. The farm is divided into blocks of one acre each, surrounded by a levee, a. ditch for either irrigation or drainage and a graded road. These ditches improved the drainage con- ditions greatly. The bountlary levee around the farm was strengthened Figure 2—Seed House. to prevent fiood waters from above overflowing the farm. The various plans for the improvement and development of the farm into an experiment station have been put into practice and results are now being secured. The work on this substation has been devoted largely to rice experi- ments or the investigations of practices related to rice farming. Rice is the chief crop of the community in which the substation is located; the soil is typical oi much oi the dark clay rice soil oi the section, and conditions are similar to those existing in the rice belt. The plan of work also includes investigations with other crops for the purpose of finding suitable crops to grow on the rice soils and in rotation with rice, as well as to study the best methods of growing these crops under the conditions existing on rice farms. Only those experiments which 8 ‘Texas AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. have been under Way long enough to be of value are touched upon in this“ report. RICE. Investigations with rice include tests of various field practices to determine their effect upon the yield of rice and to give information as to the methods which best control red rice, Weeds and grass. In other rice tests varieties are 1iurified and compared to find those best adapted to the conditions, While in still other tests a study,‘ is made of the effect on the jyield of rice as affected by various other ‘crops being- grouui in rotation with rice. Seeding fllctltod-s. Two years’ results have been secured to indicate the best time to plant rice. Honduras variety was used in the test. It will be seen in Table that the late seedings yielded much better than the early seedings. TABLE 2. Average Yield of Rice for 1913 and 1914. Date of Seeding Test. Date of seeding. Yield, Pounds per acre. March 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270 pr' 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 675 April 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 845 April 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 April 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1340 May 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1315 May 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1525 May 2O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1465 May 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1485 June 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1660 Rice planted late in the season has several advantages over that planted early. The soil i11 practically every rice field is full of Weed and. grass seeds Which germinate during the spring and summer as conditions become favorable. Where rice is planted early, there is little opportunity for xveed seeds to germinate before planting, and the result is that they come up very thick in the young rice.“ If planting is deferred, many of the grass and veed seeds xvill germinate While the land. is being prepared and the p-lants can be killed by disk-_ ing and harrowing, thus giving the rice good opportunity’ to grow without being choked. As a rule, also, late-planted rice is sown on land that has received better preparation and, as a result, a better stand is secured. It is also very apparent that rice planted the middle of May grows much faster than that planted four or six Weeks earlier. Where a large acreage is to be planted conditions may make it advis- able to begin seeding earlier in the season, but this should be done only on land that is well iarepared, comparatively free from weed seeds and at a time whenconditic-ns are favorable for rapid germination. As rice fields become more infested with grass and Weeds, it its more PROGIYFQ-S REPORT or TEXAS SUBSTATIOX No. 4. 9 |.\» Figure 3—Rice Experiment Plat. This plat was thoroughly prepared. Note water between drill rows. Figure 4—Rice Experiment Plat. This plat was given ordinary preparation. Note irregular growth and weeds. 10 ~ i TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. essential that a thick stand be secured by seeding and less dependence placed on the ability of the rice t0 stool and thus thicken a half, two- thirds or three-fourths stand to a full stand. The rate-of-seeding experiments give the results shown in Table 3. TABLE 3. Rate-of-Seeding Experiments. _ _ - Yield, pounds to the acre. Rice rate of seeding, pounds to the acre. 1913 I 1914 i Average. 60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 720 1820 1270 80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 590 _ 1930 1260 100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1040 2010 ' 1525 The very small yields of 1913 are due, in part at least, to early planting. -Results of tests conducted show that not less than one-half sack (90 pounds) of seed to the acre should be planted under good condi- tions, and when conditions are not altogether favorable the amount should be increased to 100 pounds or more. The question of how deep rice should be planteddepends a great deal upon conditions. Very deep planting has not proved successful. Good stands can be secured by surface planting if rain or irrigation water is supplied to- germinate the seed. Drilling has been successful on the substation at depths ranging from one-half inch to two inches. It would seem that drilling, say, one to two inches deep should be prac- ticed only when there is enough moisture in the ground to insure germination. But, when conditions are favorable, this method has given best results and is to be advised. If the ground is dry, the seed should be planted shallow so that it will not start to germinate without a rain or until the land is flushed. This method is not always success- ful. A light rain may occur which is only sufficient to Wet the sur- face and cause the seed to sprout, but not enough to keep the ground moist until the rice comes up. In this case the stand will be injured or lost: When the land is flushed to germinate the seed it is necessary to drain all the water off in from three to five days, as rice will not come up if water stands on the ground the whole period. Heavy rains following closely upon the period of flushing may cause damage by holding water on portions of the field too long. Germinating seed by flushing can be relied upon only where drainage can be thoroughly controlled. A When the land is dry, or nearly dry, there is no room for question as to whether it is best to seed rice broadcast or by means of a grain drill. Table 4 gives the results of a test conducted in 1913 concerning this point. Pnoonuss REPORT or TEXAS SUBSTATION No. 4. ' 11 TABLE 4. Broadcast Versus Drilling Rice. Manner of Seeding. Yield in pounds to the acre. Drilled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1930 Broadcast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 927 Loss due to broadcasting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1003 It should be stated that the experiment. does not. apply. to wet land. Rotations. While the present rotation systems have been conducted only two years on the substation, it is very apparent that the yields or rice can be increased a great deal by rotation with other crops, rather than by growing rice continuously on the same land. Tn 1914 rice was grown on a number of plats where other crops had grown in 1913. The yields of rice obtained under these various conditions are shown in Table 5. It will be seen that the heaviest yield of rice was secured where cotton grew in 1913. This was apparently due to the fact that the cotton ground was clean and in excellent physical condition. It held moisture well and a very good stand was secured. It is also very apparent that the legumes-—cowpeas, peanuts, sweet. clover and soybeans-were very beneficial to the following rice crop. It is interesting to note that where the land was plowed and no crop grown in 1913 the yield of rice in 1914 was less than where some cultivated crop was grown. The lowest yield of rice obtained in 1914 was from the plats where rice was grown in 1913, showing that rice following rice is the poorest combination tested. TABLE 5. Effect of Crop Rotation on Yields of Rice. Previous Crop. Yield of Rice, pounds per acre. Cotton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1911 Cowpeas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1774 Peanuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1771 Sweet clover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1767 Soy oeans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1721 Corn and cowpeas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1625 Oats and cowpeas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1573 Fallow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1412 Rice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1068 Rice Varieties. Tests have been conducted with 122 varieties of rice for the purpose of securing those of special value. These rices are first tested in a nursery where seeds of individual heads are planted in separate rows. The rows are one rod long, three feet apart, with the plants six inches apart in the rows. This is done to purify the variety and to test the 12 r Texas AGRICUJJPLTHAI. lixriziiiiinxr Siurriox. manner of growth, yield and quality oi’ (zvery particular pure strain. Accurate and detailed records of each row are kept. The seed is care- fully harvested, threshed and weighed. allowing no mixture. The pure strains or varieties. that fnake a satisfactory record in the nursery plat are (lrilled. in larger plats the succeeding year where they are ‘again carefully studied and accurate data. sec-tired. Those varieties making a good record in the small drilled plats are planted in larger plats the folloyving" year, where the third accurate test is. made. By continuing this process the {best varieties can be located and sufficient seed pro- duced for planting" on a larger scale. Wide variations were‘ found ‘among the varieties tested in regard to the rapidity‘ of growth, the height the plant reached at maturity, the stiffness of straw, the length of time required to mature, the number of heads on a plant, the amount of shattering, the size of head. the size, shape and texture of the kernel and the yield. Through close study of these characters and securing an average record for a number of years those varieties having special zidaptation can be selected. Among the varieties tested in the nursery a number of them have shown special ‘ability to produce lai'g'e yields. Some of these varieties are listed in Table 6, giving‘ the average yield in pounds for a. nursery row for a period of three years, 1912, 1913 and 1914. “lhile they do not give the acre yield, the figures serve as a basis for comparison among themselves. The table includes the record of two standard varieties, the Shinriki and theHondur-as, which it will be noted are at the bottom of the list. TABLE 6. Three-year Average Yield in Pounds Per Nursery Row for Several Varieties of Rice From 122 Varieties Tested. o Z m- Variety. Average yield, pounds _ per nursery row. [-1 1585 Chien-Yu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.230 1518 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . 970 1581 Pei-Gua-Nun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.966 1595 Behula . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.965 1589 Shindano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.723 1579 Pa-Tei-Don . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.673 1580 Nun-Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.568 1587 Nugengiva. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.398 1584 Shi-Cin-Tsai . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.356 1576 Makuno-uchi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.330 1578 Chieng-Yu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.253 1586 . . . . . . ._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.252 1542 Carangiang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.190 156 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2 146 1545 Capayon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2.097 1551 Foi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2.011 1610 Shriniki . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 .860 IBIIIHonduras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.603 Most of these yrarieties have been tested one year and some of them two years in the larger drilled plats and the tests thus far indicate that their record under these conditions will be about the same as in the nursery plats. In the drilled plats certain varieties have been found which, because Pnoennss REPORT or Tuexas SUBSTATIOX No. 4. 13 of rapid growth and heavy stooling, do well and produce high yields where less vigorous varieties are injured and choked by grass and Weeds. The tests in these field plats have not been conducted long enough to justify publication of conclusions. Control 0f Red Rice, Grass and Weeds. The plan for controlling; red rice is veiysiiiiple, though the matter of putting it into effect may be somewhat difficult. It is, l1owever, entirely feasible and effective. The use of seed which is free from red rice, planting it on land that has no red rice in it and preventing any red rice from being brought onto the land, will insure freedom from this pest. Seed can be secured which is entirely free from red rice, though it is scarce. It is difficult to find land in the rice belt that has no red rice seed in it. A few years of clean cultivation. such as can be given with cotton, corn, cane, and so forth, will rid the land. of red rice. It will be necessary, however, to cut the volunteer plants out several times each season to entirely prevent formation of seed, this being necessary because red rice grows in fields farmed in this manner. Since red rice is scrattererl quite generally over all the fields throughout this section it is necessary to fight it continually, because it is carried from place to place by water and animals, a.nd each season transports a new supply of seed. The control of other weeds and grass is a more difficult problem. A few of these are distributed in seed rice and care should be exer- cised to plant only seed that is pure. Late and thorough preparation of the land is very effective in controlling these pests, as it offers suit- able conditions for the germination of the seeds and continued work- ingof the land kills the young plants. Thorough, clean, cultivation of the land for several seasons in- connection with the production of other crops Will do much to free the land from weed and grass seeds which are injurious to rice. The usual high, narrow levee is the source of much trouble from weeds. These levees cannot be farmed and are allowed to produce a heavy‘ crop of weeds and grass, the» seed being distributed over the entire field. The use of low, wide coutour levees, now in more common use, and which can be farmed and planted with the field, will do a- great deal to prevent the production of weed and grass seeds in the field. Varieties of rice which have special ability to grow rapidly and cover the ground quickly will choke out Weeds and grass quite efiectively and produce good yields where slower growing, less vigorous varieties will be overcome. FORAGE CROPS. Considering the long growing season in this section and the luxuriant growth made by vegetation, investigations were begun by the sub- station to find valuable forage crops adapted to conditions here. The matter of producing green forage is comparatively easy, but the ques- tion of harvesting hay crops is much more difficult because of the fre- 14 TEXAs AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. quent rains and high humidity. Silag'e crops, therefore, are very de- pendable, while hay crops are frequently damaged or lost in the process of harvesting and curing. Sorghums. The sorghums as a class produce large yields of forage and when put into the silo are very satisfactory. Sudan grass will produce from two to four crops of hay in a season and under good conditions will yield from one to three tons at each cutting. Table '7 shows the yields secured in 1914 with Sudan grass as a hay crop. - TABLE 7. Sudan Hay Rate of SeedingiTest, 1914. Rate‘of Seeding, Yield. Number Plats Averaged. Pounds_ er Acre, Tons Cured Hay ' Dr1 led. to the Acre. 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . t 1O 2.0 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 2.48 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 2.32 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 2.24 ' 2.3 The percentage of loss from damp weather during harvest, however, is too great to make this crop satisfactory for hay. It cures slowly because of its rather large, succulent stems. None of the sorghums can be depended upon for seed crops because of blighting, which is due to the sorghum midge. The Shallu, sometimes called “Egyptian wheat,” seems to be mo-re dependable for seed production than any of the other varieties. Sorghums grown for seed should be planted in June or even the first of July. When planted at this time theyare more apt to escape attack of the surghum midge than when planted earlier. For forage purposes sorghums may be planted as soon as the ground is thoroughly warm. Japanese Sugar Cane. The best forage crop grown on the substation is Japanese sugar cane. This cane has produced as high at 24 tons of green forage per acre. It can be harvested in wet weather‘ as well as in dry Weather. It can be fed in a variety of ways. The crop may be pastured beginning the latter part of October and pasturing until growth starts from the stubble in the spring. It may also be fed green from the field from the last of August until frost or even later. Or, it may be harvested and fed either as dry forage or as silage. If it is desired to feed the crop as dry forage it may be stored in a shed, barn loft, or in ricks or stacks on the ground. When handled this Way the leaves dry and cure, but the stalks remain sweet and juicy. The crop requires a long ' season and develops a large part of its sugar late in the season. It should, therefore, be harvested just before danger of frost. A light PROGRESS REPORT or TEXAS SUBSTATION N0. 4. 15 frost will not injure it for feeding purposes, though, it may injure it for seed. Japanese sugar cane has shown marked adaptation in the Gulf coast country and especially in the rice belt. While this crop should have reasonably good drainage, it will thrive under poorer drainage con- ditions than most other crops except rice, and, therefore, is especially valuable in the rice belt. Because of its large yields it requires con- siderable moisture and will not do Well except in a. humid climate. Where drainage conditions are good, Japanese sugar cane may be planted in the fall, but, if drainage is lacking, planting should be deferred until February. When planted in the fall two furrows from each side should be p-lowed on the row, covering the seed cane deeply and making drain furrows between the rows. In early spring- these ridges should be dragged off. The rows may be five to seven feet apart. Since this cane comes up from the stubble for several years it is im- ’portant that the land be prepared well and that suflicient seed canes be used to insure a good stand. A test was begun in 1914 to determine the amount of seed required for best results. Three. rates of planting were used. In the thin rate the canes were cut in pieces, each having two eyes or buds, and one piece was dropped every two feet in rows six feet apart. In the medium rate of planting the canes were laid in a single line, the ends meeting. In the thick rate the canes were lapped one-half, making a double line of canes. The amounts of‘ seed canes per acre required for these three rates of planting were approxi- mately 800 pounds for the thin rate, 2000 pounds for the medium rate, and 4000 pounds for the thick rate. The yields of green forage secured from this test in 1914 were as follows: Thin planting I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..19,226 pounds per acre. Medium planting . . . . . . . . . . . ..2’7,68l7 pounds per acre. Thick planting . . . . . . . . . . . . . “$6,524 pounds per acre. In this test the thick rate produced 8837 pounds more than the medium rate and 17,298 pounds more than the thin rate of planting. Japanese sugar cane has good feeding value and is relished by horses, mules, cattle and hogs.* When fed as dry forage it should be run through a feed cutter. i COTTON. It has already been pointed out that cotton is a valuable crop to grow for the benefit derived by the following rice crop. The cotton crop itself, however, has, not been profitable when grown on poorlv drained clay land. With satisfactory drainage the plant grows well on rice lands, but the lint production is readily damaged by extended periods of wet weather and high humidity. *For a complete discussion of Japanese sugar cane, see Texas Experiment Station Bulletin No. 195. " - 16 TEXAS Aonrctftritniui EXPERJMEXT STATION. (YORN. Tests conducted with corn show that it is not a reliable crop on the poorly drained rice soils, though it does quite well on the better drained lighter soils in this section. are under way, but no conclusions are possible as yet. twenty-nine varieties of corn tested, highest yield. rxsrtuur EXPERIMENTS. An extensive series of corn variety tests. In 1914., of a strain of Laguna made the In the fall of 1911 and the sp-ring of 1912 the ten acres reserved for the pasture were planted to the following five mixtures of grasses and elovers : TABLE 8. Pasture Experiments. Kind. Rate, pounds.’ Time. No. 1. Bermuda Grass . . . . . . . . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Spring sown. No. 2. Bermuda Grass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Spring sown. Burr Clover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Fall sown. Rescue Grass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l0 Fall sown. Japan Clover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Spring sown. N0. 3. Rescue Grass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Fall sown. Burr Clover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Fall sown. Colorado Grass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l0 Spring sown. Japan Clover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1O Spring sown. No. 4 Burr Clover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1_O Fall sown. Guinea Grass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cuttings Spring sown. Japan Clover . . . . . . . . . . ._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1O Spring sown. No. 5 Para Grass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cuttings Spring sown. Burr Clover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Fall sown. Japan Clover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1O Spring sown. Of these experimental plantings, Bermuda. grass, burr clover Lespecléza have done well, and are making the pasture valuable year round. LEGUBIE S . an d the The lack of drainage in lands devoted to rice production interferes with the successful production of most legumes, though a few are fairly Well adapted and others have been grown xvith reasonably good success. Where good drainage prevails many of the legumes do exceed- ingly well. Cowpeas usually do well on rice soils, though they are frequently injured and sometimes even killed by extended periods of wet weather. Soybeans, sweet clover and peanuts have made good growths on old rice land. Burr clover, Lesperieza and White clover are apparently best adapted to the poor drainage conditions prevailing in the rice belt. These legumes are especially valuable in pastures. HOBIE GARDEN. The home garden is a very important feature on every farm. While conditions usually found on rice farms are not suitable for truck 0 PROGRESS Ricroirr or Texas Srnsmrrox No. l. 17 growing, it is possible and profitable to go to considerable expense to mz-ike coiulitioiis on a small area satisfactory for the groyvth of vegetables i11 sufficient. quantity for home use. Satisfactory drainage can be secured by bedding in high or very high beds thirty to fifty feet wide. With the addition of plenty of manure and commercial fertilizer vegetables can be grown throughout almost the entire year. Sweet potatoes, p038, beans, cowpeas, okra, and so forth, produce during the summer and fall. Irish potatoes may be planted in both spring and fall. Iiettuce, cablfiage, cauliflower, English peas, beans, radishes, spin- ach, mustard, turnips, tomatoes, plants, peppers and "other vegetable crops usually (lovwcll and most of them are adapted to both spring and fall planting.‘ Such crops as melons and cucumbers are well adapted in this section. Berries in general do exceedingly Well. CONCLUSIONS. As has been explained, the substation is located on a typical rice farm. ’l_‘he problems confronting the substation and the difficulties that had to be solved to make possible the production of general crops are the same as those that must be solved on any other farm which reorganizes on the basis of a general farm. Rice farming is, on the whole, a profitable lmsiness, yet it is a generally conceded fact that the system of farming which includes only rice growing is not a per- manent system, but rather very temporary. This is conclusively shown by the fact that approximately two-thirds of the land in this section which has grown rice and preparetl for irrigation is lying idle. This is largely due to the fact that the land was rice-farmed until profitable yields could no longer be secured, or until the red rice, weeds and grass became so bad that the land had to be abandoned. This land is not ruined and is not worn out. Numerous attempts, hoyvevcr, have been made to use this land for other crops, but only in a few cases has this been successjtLil—usually because proper (lrainage was not secured. The substation met the same problem and began work on the basis of finding some scheme which would offer a profitable practice a.nd thus afford temporary relief until drainage could be secured. It is, however, very evident that no great success can be attained without first obtain- ing the fundamental necessity, drainage. In the preceding discussion .on the work of the station the need of better drainage on the farm is clearly shown. As a result, a. plan has been adopted whereby surface drainage can be secured. Some points were learned toward the develop- ment of rotations without adequate drainage, but progress was neces- sarilv slow. With adequate drainage, the way is opened for the suc- cessful production of. more than the rice crop. Furthermore, rice pro- duction- is more successful with a drainage than where the surface water cannot be controlled as desired. t The work of the substation, thus far, indicates that a successful system of farming on the old rice fields would include the production of rice, forage crops and legumes andthe maintenance of live stock. Good drainage facilities should be secured as a prerequisite. Forage 18 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. crops, such as Japanese sugar cane and the sorghums, can be grown in abundance for silage. Legumes, such as cowpeas, soybeans, and peanuts, should be grown for soil improvement and may be pastured. Part of the rice crop may be exchanged for a concentrate protein feed such as cotton seed meal. The silage, cotton seed meal and rice straw make a good combination and a large number of live stock can be fed from a comparatively small acreage. This system permits almost the full income from the rice crop; includes the growth of legumes and the maintenance of live stock for the improvement of the land and it offers live stock as an additional source of revenue which may easily equal that of the rice crop, thereby doubling the earning capacity of the farm. i '