A102-517-15m ‘ TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN NO. 21s - MAY, 11917 PROGRESS REPORT, SUBSTATION NO. 5, TEMPLE, TEXAS 1910-1914 B. YOUNGBLOOD, DIRECTOR COLLEGE STATION, BRAZOS COUNTY, TEXAS. AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS W. B. BizzELL, A. M., D. C. L., President TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS H: OHN I. GUION, Ballinger, President ........ .. J. HART, San Antonio, Vice-Preside H. AsTiN, Bryan ........................ .. R. KUBENA, Fayetteville. B. DAVIDSON, Cuero ............. .. ILL A. MILLER, JR., Amarillo. 01m T. DICKSON, Paris ............. .. E. BATTLE, Marlin ............. .. >“'l'1'll" SEE-Pg . A. BREIHAN, Bartlett ........................................................... ................................ ..Term expires 192E ............. ..Term expires 191i Term expires 191$ ...Term expires 191$ .. ‘erm expires 192] ....... "Termyexpires 192] ....... ..Term expires 192] .......... ..Term expires 192E ............... .. Term expires 192E L-i MAIN STATION COMMITTEE L. J. HART, Chairman WILL A. MILLER, JR GOVERNING BOARD, STATE SUBSTATIONS P. L. DOWNS, Temple, President ............................ .. Ci-IARLEs RoGAN, Austin, Vice-President.. W. P. HOBBY, Beaumont .......................... .. J. E. Booc-ScoTT, Coleman .................................... .. .................................................... ..Term expires 191i .... ..Term expires 192E .... ..Term expires 191$ .................................................... ..Term expires 192] *STATION STAFF ADMINISTRATION B. YOUNGBLOOD, lVl. S., Director A. B. CoNNER, B. S., Vice Director CHAs. A. FELKER, Chief Clerk A. S. WARE, Secretary DIVISION OF VETERINARY SCIENCE _ LTM. 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 CHAS. BUCHWALD, M. S., Assistant Chemist G. B. L. SMITH, M. S., Assistant Chemist DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE _ . NEss, M. S., Horticulturist in Charge W. S. HOTCHKISS, Horticulturist DIVISION OF ANIDIAL HUSBANDRY J. C BuRNs, B. S., Animal Husbandman, Feeding Investigations J. M. JONES, A. M., Animal Husbandman, Breeding Investigations TL. B. BURK, B. S Animal Husbandman, Swine Investigations DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY F. . PAnnocK, M. S., Entomologist in Charge; State Entomologist R. J. REINIIARD, B. S., Assistant Ento- mologist County Apiary Inspectors R. C. Abernathy, Ladonia; William Atch- ley, Mathis; J. W. E. Basham, Barstow; Victor Boeer, Jourdanton; T. W. Burle- son, Waxahachie; W. C. Collier, Goliad: E. \V. Cothran, Roxton; G. F. Davidson, Pleasanton; John Donegan, Seguin; A. R. Graham, Milano; J. B. King, Batesville; N. G. LeGear, Waco; R. A. Little, Pear- sall: M. C. Stearns. Brady; S. H. Stephens, Uvalde; M. B. Tally, Victoria; R. E. Watson, Heidenheimer; W. H. White, Greenville; F. C. Belt, Ysleta; R. A. Nestor, Buffalo; II. A. Jones, Oakville; T. . Bowdon, Palestine; George J. Elam, Marlin; E. R. Jones, Beeville. DIVISION OFAGRONOMY A. B. CONNER, B. S., Agronomist in Charge A. H. LEIDIGII, B. S., Agronomist Louis WERMELsKiRciIEN, B. S., Agronomist DIVISION OF PLANT PATHOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY J. J. TAUBENHAUS, Ph. D., Plant Patholo- gist and Physiologist in Charge A. D. JOHNSON, B. S., Graduate Assistant DIVISION OF POULTRY HUSBANDRY R. N. HARvEY, B. S., Poultrgman in Chargi DIVISION OF FORESTRY J. H_. FOSTER, M. F., Forester in Charge State Forester DIVISION OF PLANT BREEDING E. P. HUMBERT, Ph. D., Plant Breeder it Charge J. S. MOGEORI), B. S., Graduate Assistant DIVISION OF DAIRYING ' J. E. HARPER, M.S., Dairyman in Charge DIVISION OF FEED CONTROL SERVICE " JAMES SULLIVAN, Executive Secretary J. H. RocERs, Inspector W. H. W001), Inspector T. H. WOLTERS, Inspector S. D. PEARCE, Inspector W. M. WIcKEs, Inspector SUBSTATION NO. l: Beeville, Bee County E. E. BINFOBD B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 2: Troup, Smith County W. S. HoTcIIKIss, Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 3: Angleton, Brazoril County _ N. E. WINTERS, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 4: Beaumont, Jeflersol County H. H. LAuoE, B. S., Superintendent J. B. COCKRELL, B. S., Scientific Assistant SUBSTATION NO. 5: Temple, Bell County D. T. KILLoUoII, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 6, Denton, Denton County C. H. McDowELL, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 7:‘Spur, Dickens Count] R. E. DICKSON, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 8: Lubbock, Lubbock C ounty _ R. E. KARPER, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 9, Pecos, Reeves Count] J. W. JACKSON, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO.‘ l0: (Feeding and Breedln] Substation), College Station, Brazoi Co-Inty E. R. SPENcE, B. S., Animal Husbandman in Charge of Farm. SUBSTATION N0. ll: Nacogdoches, Nacog~ doches County _ G. T. McNEss, Superintendent 1SUBSTATION NO. 12: Chillicothe, Harde- man County _ R. W. EDWARDS, B. S., Superintendent V. E. HAFNER, B. S., Scientific Assistant SUBSTATION N0.‘l4, Sonora, Sufton County E. M. PETERs, B. S., Acting Superintendent CLERICAL ASSISTANTS J. M. SCHAEDEL, Stenographer DAISY LEE, Registration Clerk W. F. CHRISTIAN, Stenographer ELIZABETH WALKER, Stenographer E. E. KILBORN, Stenographer *As of May 1, 1917. fln cooperation with A._& M. College of Texas. IIn cooperation with United States Department of Agriculture. C. L. DURsT, Mailing Clerk A. T. JAcKsQN. Copyist _ q CARL ABELL, Scientific Assistant R. C. FRANKS, Copgist F.C. MARcoNLInEs, Stenographer CONTENTS. _ledgment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 PAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 oduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 p, tory of the Substation. . ._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. '7 teorological Data . . . . . .- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 i1 Precipitation Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 "eriment Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .- . . . 9 ellaneous Tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 9 "ts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..' . . . . . . . ..' . . . . . . . .. 9 i~ Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..-... 1O L- Rotated Cotton versus Cotton Following Cotton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Corn in Rotation versus Corn Following Corn . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 12 l n Root _Rot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 “on Variety Test i . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 13 fas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 14 Cowpea Variety Test for Seed Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 14 Cowpea Variety Test for Forage . . . . . . . . . . . .9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 g Bean Variety Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 15 a Sorghums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 16 Lg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 16 hum-Legume Mixture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1'7’ ’ Variety Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 j Seeding Rate Test . . . . . . . . . .f . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19 'bution of Corn Plants on Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 - flEfiect of Distance of Hills on Yield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 versus Corn and Cowpeas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 iscellaneous . . . . . . . ..' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . .. 21 _udan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 21 ers and Lime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 24 i- of Plowing Experiment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 itme of Plowing Test with Cotton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 iting Land as Seedbed Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 __0tton on Dynamited versus ‘Not Dynamited Fields . . . . . . . . . . . 26 orn on Dynamited versus Not Dynamited Fields . . . . . . . . . .. 26 Vary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 [Blank Page in Original Bulletin] FOREWORD. The annual progress reports of the various substations may be con- sidered part of the general annual report. Much credit is due Mr. A. B. Conner, in his capacity as Vice Director, and Mr. A. H. Leidigh, in his capacity as Agronomist, for painstaking work in checking figures and editing this and all other substation progress reports, and grateful acknowledgment is hereby made. B. YOUNGBLOOD, Director. [Blank Page in Original Bulletin] PROGRESS REPORT, SUBSTATION NO. 5, TEMPLE, TEXAS, l910——l9l4. i BY D. T. KILLOUGH, B. S., SUPERINTENDENT. INTRODUCTORY. Substation No. 5 of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station sys- tem is located four and one-half miles southwest of Temple and four miles northeast of. Belton, in Bell County. This substation was estab- lished in 1910, to serve the central black land region of Texas. Be- cause of the necessity of developing the farm, the first actual crop work was started in 1911. Since that time, many valuable and inter- esting experiment results have been secured, and much of the informa- tion thus secured has been given immediate publication in Station bulletins, in the annual reports of the Director, and in the press. This report is the first separate bulletin issued by the Station upon the work of Substation No. 5, and covers the work done at Temple from the establishment of the substation to and including the crop season of 1914. When it was decided to place a substation in this vicinity, a number of sites were considered, and the present lo-cation was chosen, partly at least, because of its accessibility to the public. A fine pike road con- necting Temple and Belton passes immediately in front of the sub- station, and an interurban line and the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad parallel this pike. The site selected for the substation consists of ninety-six acres of land, thirty acres of which has long been in cultivation, the remaining land being in pasture and woodland. This land has been surveyed and mapped into 8x20-rod acres, for crop experiment work. The farm is well fenced, and cross-fenced, with hog-proof fences. The buildings at this time consist of a superintendent’s cottage of four rooms, costing approximately twelve hundred dollars; a four-room laborer’s house; a barn 28x42 feet, and a small outhouse, which serves the combined purposes of ofiice, workshop, and seed room. There is also a combination implement and tool shed. The substation is locally in charge of a superintendent. Practically all of the experiment work is planned and supervised by the Director, with the assistance of members of the scientific staif of the Station. During the first year of the substation’s existence, little experiment work" was attempted, as the land had to be blocked out and handled in such a way as to bring it to a uniform condition. Such improve- ments as were absolutely necessary were made at that time, and equip- ment and accessories suitable for field experiment work were purchased. In 1912 definitely outlined systems of rotation were established on 8 Texas AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. - all of the blocks of acres making up the parts of the farm suited to definite experiment use. These rotations have been of great value, not only in maintaining the land, but also in improving it. From and including the season of 1912, all of the experiments have been based upon definite projects. A considerable amount of the Work under Way is of such nature that dependable results may scarcely be expected in this short time. Attention has been given, however, to many local problems Which have presented themselves, and only a small part of the farm has been devoted to long-time experiments, Which are so tech- nical that immediate value Would not be secured from the first few years of Work. In 1914 hogs Were secured for experiments, but up to that time all Work had been With crops, soils, and fruits. As a result of the policy just outlined, there is becoming available here a rapidly increasing amount of data, Which it is believed is im- portant enough to justify publication. It is intended hereafter to pub- lish at least one bulletin from this substation each year. Figure 1. Superintendent’s Cottage, August, 1914. METEOROLOGICAL DATA. Since 1913 there have been kept at this substation very complete Weather records. These records include the amount and distribution of the rainfall, the temperature, the amount of moisture in the air, the amount of evaporation, and the Wind movement records. These rec- ords give very definite information as to the effect of the Weather on the experiments under Way, and thus supplement the rainfall and tem- perature data. collected by the United States Weather Bureau, through the co-operative observer at Temple. In agricultural experiments it is necessary to knoW just hoW the Weather of a given year compares With the normal Weather conditions. The accompanying table shoWs the rain- fall of the locality for a period of twenty-six years, from 1889 to and PROGRESS REPORT OF SUBSTATION N0. 5, 1910-1914:. ' 9 . luding 1914. It will be seen that the annual rainfall has varied from 9,45 to 59.28 inches, and that the average annual rainfall is 35.07 inches. iOf the years covered by the crop experiments reported herein, 1912 ,_ dry, and both 1913 and 1914 received more than the average annual I- all. Throughout these three years, however, there was unusually weather in the early summer, and as a result of this dry summer .'T»= the corn crops were much smaller than what is supposed to .~ a fair average for this section. Conditions for the production of j on, however, have been more favorable than for corn. TABLE 1—PRECIPITATION RECORD. from Cooperati ve Observer, United States Weather Bureau, Temple, Texas, Except 1914, Secured by Substation No. 5, Temple. Annual Precipitation 1n nc es. age for 26 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35. 07 EXPERILIENT DATA. pie results given in this bulletin refer to testing,‘ improvement and potion studies with cotton, cowpeas, soy beans, Sudan grass, corn, fthe grain and forage sorghums, as well as rotation work and ex- ‘ents comparing different methods _of soil preparation. MISCELLANEOUS TESTS. j; which have been under way, but which have not been carried point where conclusions are possible, include experiments with 'es of winter wheat, winter oats, winter barley, and tests of .1 introduced clovers and alfalfas. 4 FRUITS. of the most noticeable shortcomings on a farm in this part of te is a lack of fruit trees, grapes, and garden crops. In the 10 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. attempt to find satisfactory varieties for these purposes, there been planted on the substation at Temple 503 grape vines, fruit and nut trees, consisting of: 5 varieties of pears 6 varieties of apples 7 varieties of peaches 3 varieties of plums 9 varieties of pecans 22 varieties of grapes. . .; lqf‘ 1. $71» uWa-vsim‘ Experiments with truck and garden crops have also been conducted on a small scale, and this work is being enlarged from year to year. Figure 2. Wheat Experiment Plats, June 8, 1913. No definite conclusions have been reached for these horticultural in»; vestigations. Enough Work has been done, however, to make it evi-i‘: dent that, except in so far as root rot of trees is concerned, there is nof reason why a farm in this section may not be supplied with home-grown fruit, aswell as in any other part of the State. i i CROP ROTATION. Perhaps the greatest handicap this substation faced at the time of its establishment was the relatively low producing power of the fields. n This condition is very common to farms in this section. Experiments here indicate that plant food is not greatly needed bv this soil. What is needed is early and thorough preparation of the land, and systematic rotation, which will free the fields of root rot and at'the same timed supply the soil with an abundance of humus-forming material. w.‘ “l s bi _ til PROGRESS Rnronr OF SUBSTATION No. 5, 1910-1914. 11 The most practical method of keeping up the crop yields will be by means of manure and the use of a systematic rotation of crops. Such a system will require a diversification of crops on the farm, and will give a more uniform demand for labor of both men and teams. Many farmers are afraid to adopt advanced methods of crop rotation, for fear of the cost involved. Systematic cropping should pay its way. Experiments are being conducted with various practices, to determine I543 Figure 3. Variety Test of Alfalfa and Clo-vers, 1912. the exact results secured from rotations. A rotation containing cow- ifpeas, which may be plowed under for green manure, has given uniformly c good results. Direct and in fact large gains are thus secured. In 1914 the results began to be available from the experiments estab- i lished to determine the effect of rotation on the yield of crops. The results available now are shown in the following table. 12 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. TABLE 2—-ROTATED COTTON VERSUS COTTON FOLLOWING COTTON. Yield of Seed Cotton l l Treatment of Land. ' Number of Plats. to the Acre 1n t Pounds. l ' i Not rotated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I 2 522.90 Rotated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . t 2 I s49 [s7 Gain for rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 326.97 The rotation seemed to reduce very materially the loss from root rot,——a fact of no small importance to the entire cotton-growing region. In fact, part of the 10w yields of “one crop” farms is due to this disease.- A change of crops, with the plowing under of legumes, is the sanitary treatment needed; it will lessen the disease and increase crop produc- tion. Not only has rotation paid with cotton, but it has paid with corn, as the following figures will show: TABLE 3—CORN IN ROTATION VERSUS CORN FOLLOWING CORN. _ Yield of Shelled_ Corn Treatment of Land. Number of Plats. to the Acre 1n Bushels. n Rotated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . 25.60 Not rotated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I 2 17.00 Gain for rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.60 A satisfactory cropping plan is as follows: One-fourth of the land in cotton. One-fourth of the land in corn, the soil to be given a very deep plow- ing at least one year in four. First year—Cornp Plant to small grain in the fall. Second year—Winter oats, winter barley or winter wheat: Plant to cowpeas same week as harvested; plow the cowpeas under very deeply in the early fall. Third year-—Cotton. Fourth _y*ear—-Co\vpeas or peanuts: Plow under the stubble and after- growth. Fifth year—Corn again. Another rotation that is giving good results is one in which, each year, one-third of the land is planted to cotton and one-third of it put in corn, the cultivated area being given a very deep plowing at least one year out of three. First year-Corn: In six-foot rows with cowpeas planted in the middles when corn is two feet high. Plow very deeply early in the fall. Second year—Cotton: Plant in small grains in the fall or in Sudan in the spring. Third _vear—Small grain or Sudan: If in small grain, plant to cow- peas the same week as harvested, and in the fall plow this crop under for Paoonnss REPORT or SUBSTATION No. 5, 1910-1914. 1,3 green manure. ll’ in Sudan, plow the last crop and the stubble under early in the fall. COTTON ROOT ROT. Root rot (Ozoni/ztm omnivorum) is the cause of almost incalculable crop losses in this part of Texas. This plant disease is present in prac- tically all of the land in the region served by this substation and it is a common disease on the substation land. The disease attacks not only cotton, but also fruit trees and such crops as cowpeas, soy beans, clovers and alfalfa. It does not attack grasses, corn, sorghum, or small grains. The root-rot disease is due to the infestation of the surface soil by continuous planting of cotton and legume crops which foster the disease. It is not known how to cure the disease, but experiments here show that lack of crop rotation coupled with exhaustive and poor farming prac- tices, causes heavyinfestation of the land with the disease. Where rotation is practiced and good farming methods are followed, the severity of the losses is much lessened. And this is especially true where the rotation allows of the plowing under of a large amount of humus- . forming material. In 1914 cotton on land previously cropped to cotton continuously, with no rotation, suffered a loss of 59 per cent. of the cotton plants by root rot, whereas in the four-year rotation only six-tenths of 1 per cent. of the cottonaplants were killed by root rot. Deep plowing aided somewhat in controlling the disease. This was due to the fact that plants on shallow~plowed plats seem to be attacked early in the season. The disease is of such importance and causes such heavy losses that steps are being taken to devote more attention to the study of the disease. COTTON VARIETY TEST. The cotton variety test embraced fifty-four varieties in 1912, ninety- four varieties in .1913, and sixty-seven varieties in 1914. The following table shows the six highest yielding varieties in the order of yield, based on an average for the three years: TABLE 4—COTTON VARIETY TEST——1912, 1913 AND 1914. Avera e Yield to cre, T. S. Variety. Source. _ Pounds No. Lint Cotton. 135 Union Big Boll. . . . . H. G. Hastings & Co., Atlanta, Ga . . . . . . . . . . . . 339.82 11 Lone Star . . . . . . . . . D. M. Crenshaw, Waco, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339.39 152 Mortgage Lifter. . . . H. G. Hastings & Co., Atlanta, Ga . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317.34 153 Truitt . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. L. Willet Seed Co., Au usta, Ga . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295.80 16 Crowder. . . . . . . . . . . E. A. Crowder, Marquez, exas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294.59 130 Bank Account. . . . . 1H. G. Hastings & Co., Atlanta, Ga . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266. 12 The Union Big Boll is a very short staple variety, but has been a good producer. _ An average yield for the two years, 1912 and 1913, showed varieties to rank as follows: 14 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1. Lone Star. 2. Union Big Boll. 3. Virgatus. 4. Lone Star. 5. Mebane. 6. Bowden. 7. Triumph (Sandefs selection). 8. Jackson. Considering the length of staple and other qualities, the Lone Star produced best results in this test. COWPEAS. The best legume for use in rotations and for a general crop in this region is the cowpea. This is a matter of common knowledge. The legume investigations at this substation are twofold in their pur- pose. First, based on the known excellence of the cowpea, it is desired to find new sorts or to improve those already available, and to find what variety is best. Varieties are being tested, to the end that the best cowpea for this part of the State may be definitely known and that seed may be made available. Second, it is desired to test out all kinds and types of legumes in order to show’ whether or not any of the new or little known kinds are of any value here. - That the cowpea varieties most widely known to the farmers are not as satisfactory varieties as may be found, is shown in the variety tests now under way. Cow-pea Variety Test for Seed Production. The cowpea variety test included seven varieties in 1912, eighteen varieties in 1913, and seventeen varieties in 1914. A summary of the results secured for the three yea-rs is shown in the following table: TABLE 5—COWPEA"VARIETY TEST FOR SEED, 1912, 1913 AND 1914. Average Yield. Pounds Seed ~ to the Acre. T. S. Variety. Source of Seed. ~ No. 1912-14. Rank.l1912-13-14.l Rank. 215 . . . . . . . . . . . . U. S. Department of Agriculture*. . 291 .15 1 g . . . . . . . . . ., . . . . . . 58 New Era. . . . T. W. Wood & Sons, Richmond, Va. 273.34 2 y 404.25, 1 218 . . . . . . . . . . . . U. S. Department of Agriculture? . 268.40 3 ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Grolt . . . . . . . U. S. Department of Agriculture*. . 258 .06 4 y . . . . . . . . . .y . . . . . . 214 . . . . . . . . . . . . U. S. Department of Agriculture? . 208.71 5 l . . . . . . . . . ., . . . . . . 190 . . .- . . . . . . . . . U. S. Department of Agr1culture*. . 202.27 6 l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Brabham. . . . T. W. Wood & Sons, Richmond, Va. 172.76 7 l 143.68 2 57 Red Ripper. . T. W. Wood & Sons, Richmond, Va. 162.55 8 l 112.70 6 55 Iron . . . . . . . . T. W. Wood & Sons, Richmond, Va. 149.56 9 * 143.04. 3 219 . . . . . . . . . . . . U. S. Department of Agriculture“. . 134.68 10 y . . . . . . . . . . A . . . . . . 56 Wonderful. . . T. W. Wood & Sons, Richmond, Va. 134.63 11 y 89.75’ 7 59 Whippoorwill T. W. Wood 8c Sons, Richmond, Va. 123.22 12 l 118.98 4 60 Clay . . . . . . . . T. W. Wood & Sons, Richmond, Va. 122.46 13 112.97. 5 87 Blackeye. . . . U. S. De artment of Agriculture. . . 113.69 14 . . . . . . . . . . l . . . . . . 50 Peerless. . . . . N. L. Wi lett Seed Co., Augusta, Ga. 72.85 15 50.23. 8 208 . . . . . . . . . . . . U. S. Department of Agriculture. . . 72. 18 16 ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l q I *Forage crop investigations. i Pnoonnss REPORT OFSUBSTATION No. 5, 1910-1914. 15 Of the common varieties grown, New Era, Iron, and Brabham were good yielders. In the two-year test, T. S. No. 215, New Era, T. S. No. 218, and Groit were the best yielders, in the order given. Oowpea Variety Test for Forage. A cowpea variety test for forage in 1912 showed the following yields or different varieties: " l- 4 d‘ TABLE 6——COWPEA FORAGE TEST. i Pounds Cured Name of Variety. Fora e to the cre. ore, results are not wholly reliable. They are“ indicative, however, of rage yields of the varieties tested. ' SOY BEAN VARIETY TEST. Tests with soy beans have been conducted each year since the estab- yhment of the substation, but these beans have given very disappoint- Tg yields. Twelve varieties were tested in 1912, twelve "varieties were ‘isted in 1913, and eleven varieties were tested in 1914, covering a total ' fourteen different varieties, of which nine varieties were tested in all ree of the years. Of those tested each year for three years, the follow- is theaverage yield of seed to the acre, in bushels of sixty pounds: TABLE 7—-SOY BEAN VARIETY TEST, 1912, 1913 AND 1914. __ Average f0_r Three Varlety. Source. , B Xilezirs; YlildAIlI us e s o t e cre. - Meyer . . . . . . . . U. S.‘ Department of Agriculture* . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.9 Austin . . . . . . . . U. S. Department of Agriculture* . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5 Vlr lnia . . . . . . . U. S. Department of Agriculture* . . . . . . . . . . '. . 2.4 W1 son . . . . . . . . U. S. Department of Agriculture* . . . . . . . . . . . . 2. 1 ,.lto San . . . . . . . U. S. Department of Agriculture* . . . . . . . . . . 2.0 Cloud . . . . . . . . . U. S. Department of Agriculture* . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.0 Mammoth. . . . . T. W. Wood 8c Son, Richmond, Va . . . . . . . . . . . 1.7 Taha . . . . . . . . . U. S. Department of Agriculture* . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.4 Jet . . . . . . . . . . . U. S. Department of Agriculture* . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.0 f Forage crop investigations. y From the foregoing table it will readily be seen that varieties of soy f suitable for this climate have not yet- been secured. The fourteen ~ eties tested represent the varieties most easily obtained on the market. 16 TEXAs AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. GRAIN SORGHULIS. This region may hardly be regarded as being in the grain sorghum section, but very satisfactory grain sorghum crops have been secured. On the whole, feterita has made somewhat the best yields. The VTQTQlJl of the crop of seed in the head is very nearly the same as that of ear corn, acre for acre. It should be noted, however, that the three past summers have been very dry, and therefore favorable to the production of grain sorghum, Whereas they Were exceedingly unfavorable for corn. It is thought that grain sorghum will not be so good a crop as corn to grow through a series of years in this locality. Experiments, however, indicate that it is possible for feterita to be used as a catch crop, or, in case of emergency, for midsummer planting. 't s 5-/5‘ Figure 4. Variety Test of Corn, June 8, 1913. SORGOS. Sorgo variety tests indicate that in this region the variety named sumac has made uniformly better yields of forage and hay than other varieties. PROGRESS Rrronr or SUBSTATION No. 5, 1910-1914. 1'7 SORGHUM-LEGUME MIXTURE. In 1912 comparison was made with sorghum and cowpeas planted together for hay. Two different kinds of sorghums and four kinds of cowpeas were used. The hay crop harvested from these mixtures was very good. These experiments did not show that any special variety of cowpeas was better than another for this purpos-e. Sumac sorghum was better than amber sorghum for use in the mixture. Planting at the rate of twenty pounds of seed to the acre, consisting of one part of cowpeas and eight parts of sorghum, gave a yield of 8350 pounds of cured hay to the acre. The heaviest planting gave the best yields. Experiments with these mixtures of non-legume hay crops with legume hay crops do not indicate that satisfactory crops will be secured from such mixtures. Furthermore, the results show that in general it will be more satisfactory to raise each one of the crops by itself and then, if desirable, mix the hay when feeding. CORN VARIETY TEST. A corn variety test included twelve varieties in 1912, forty-eight vari- eties in 1913, and eighty-two varieties in 1914. The results in 1912 were of a. preliminary nature, when the following varieties ranked in the order mentioned, in yield of shelled corn to the acre: 1. Laguna. 2 Singleton’s Strawberry. 3. Red Indian Chief. 4. Oklahoma White Wonder. 5 Taylor’s Red Cobbed. 6. Hastings’ Prolific. During the seasons of 1913 and 1914 the tests were considered very dependable. In the order of their rank the average yields of twenty varieties tested are shown in the following table: ‘ . TABLE 8—-CORN VARIETY TEST. Average Yield Variety. Source. 1913-1914 Rank. Bushels. Surcropper. . . _. . . . . . . . . A. M. Ferguson, Sherman, Texas . . . . . . . . . 33.87 . 1 Mammoth White. . . . . . . Substation No. 5, Temple, Texas . . . . . . . . . 31.74 2 Cater’s Corn . . . . . . . . . . Sam Cater, Temple, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 .09 3 U. Selection 77 . . . . . . U. S. Department of Agr1culture* . . . . . . . . 28.99 4 Chisholm. . ._ . . . . . . . . . . . A. M. Ferguson, Sherman, Texas . . . . . . . . . 28.84 5 U. S. Selection 159. . . U. S. Department of Agriculture* . . . . . . . . 28.67 6 St. Charles . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Reuter, New Orleans, La . . . . . . . . . . . 27.18 7 Fentress Strawberry. . . . J. L. F. Fentress, San Saba, Texas . . . . . . . . 27.08 8 Blount’s Prolific . . . . . . . . T. W. Wood & Son, Richmond, Va . . . . . . . 25.38 9 . Wisconsin White Dent. . Chris Reuter, New Orleans, La . . . . . . . . . . . 24.99 1O Oklahoma White Wonder Texas Seed and Floral_ C0.,_Dallas, Texas. . 24. 15 11 Mastodon Dent . . . . . . . . Storrs & Harrison, Painesville, Ohio . . . . . . 23.29 12 C0cke’s Prolific . . . . . . . . T. W. Wood & Son, Richmond, Va . . . . . . . 23. 11 13 Chappell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U. S. Department of Agriculture* . . . . . . . . 20.52 14 Snowflake. ._ . . . . . . . . . . . T. W. Wood 8; Son, Richmond, Va . . . . . . . 20.42 15 Mortgage Lifter. . . . . . Storrs & Harrison, Painesville, Ohio . . . . . . 19. 12 16 Texseed Giant White. . . Texas Seed and Floral Co., Dallas, Texas.. 17.00. 17 Creole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chris Renter, New Orleans, La . . . . . . . . . . . 16.75 18 Blow . . . . . ._ . . . . . . . . . . . J. A. Blow, Bullard, Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.71 19 Rogers’ White Dent. . . . U. S. Department of Agriculture* . . . . . . . . 13.65 20 *Corn investigations. 18 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. Those results show Surcropper to be the best yielder for the two-year period, followed by Mammoth White, Cater’s corn, U. S. Selection '77, and Chisholm. Work has been done each year toward determining the ability of individual ears of corn to produce good yields. This work has shown much variation in the yielding powers of different ears. The best pro- ducing strains, when determined, are increased. Approximately one acre has been devoted to this ear-to-row work. In addition to the in- formation pertaining to the yielding power of different ears, notes have been secured as to the physical characters of the different ears planted. In 1914 an experiment was conducted to determine the relation be- tween certain characters of corn and the yielding power of the corn. These tests show that with a good stand of corn the following facts hold good: 1. Tapering ears compared with ea1's of various shapes gave slightly the largest yields. 2. The deep-grained ears made the largest yields, when compared with ears having shallow grains. ' 3. The large ears rnade slightly the largest yields, when compared with ears of various sizes. 4. Comparing ears of different weight, the heaviest ears made slightly the largest yields. 5. The weight of the ear per unit of length seemed not to influence the yield. 6. The weight of the cob seemed not to influence the yield. 7. The weight of the cob per unit of length seemed to show that light weight favored large yield. 8. High stalks favored large yield. 9. Large (circumference of stalk) stalks made larger yields than small stalks. _ 10. Stalks having the largest number of leaves to the stalk made much larger yields than those having few leaves. 11. The stalks having a large percentage of brace roots made smaller yields than stalks having a tendency to produce fewer brace roots. 12. Stalks that produced a large number of branches in the tassels made a slightly larger yield than those that had fewer branches. 13. Stalks that produced a tassel having a long central or main branch yielded less than where this member was short. These results may be summarized to mean that seed corn should be selected from a good stand of corn from tall, leafy plants which are relatively heavily stalked, and that large, heavy ears with deep grains should be chosen. It is thought that, with these facts determined, more progress will be made in the future at this substation, along the line of corn improve- ment. PROGRESS REPORT OF SUBSTATION N0. 5, 1910-1914. 19 CORN SEEDING-RATE TEST. A seeding-rate test with corn was conducted during the seasons of 1912, 1913 and 1914, with the results shown in the following table: TABLE 9——CORN SEEDING RATE TEST. Yield in Bushels to the Acre. Space, Inches Between Plants Average Average gin 3-ft. Rows. 1912 1913 1914 1912, 1 13 1912 and and 1914. 1914. I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 24.37 20.44 11 93 18 91 l 18.15 30-40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 31.24 29.22 12 23 24 23 21.73 40-50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 29.28 . . . . . . . . . . .. 16 1 . . . . . . . . . . . .. 22.69 50-60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 22.71 . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 95 60-70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70-80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19 91 24.99 14 55 19 82 17 23 These results show that the best yields were had where the plants were spaced thirty t0 forty inches apart in the row. Both thinner and thicker seedings gave reduced yields. This would indicate that the corn planted in this section requires about nine square feet of ground surface to the plant for the best yield. It is of interest to note that in this experi- ment the wider spacing always yielded larger ears and better conditioned corn. Where condition of the corn is of importance, as in see-d corn for instance, the plants should have more room than above indicated. DISTRIBUTION OF CORN PLANTS ON LAND. A test was conducted in 1913 and 1914 to determine the difference in yield, if any, when the same number of stalks of corn were grown on the land, but spaced differently. The three spacings placed the stalks in checks three by three feet on the land; in rows six feet apart with stalks one and one-half feet apart in the rows, and with rows three feet apart in pairs nine feet apart with stalks eighteen inches apart in the rows. These three spacings all carried the same number of stalks to the plat or acre. The results secured are shown in the following table: TABLE 10—EFFECT OF DISTANCE OF HILLS ‘ON YIELD. _ _ _ _ ' Yield in ~Average Manner of Distributing Hills. Year. Bushels to Yield in the Acre. Bushels to the Acre. Spaced 3 x 3 feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1913 22.84 . . . . . . . . . . . . Spaced 3 x 3 feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1914 33.80 28.32 Spaced 6 x 1 l-2 feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1913 22:73 . . . . . . . . . . . . Spaced 6 x 1 1-2 feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1914 23.40 23.06 Spaced m pairs of_3-ft rows 9 feet apart-stalks 18 '" ' ' inches apart in rows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1913 21.26 l . . . . . . . . . . .. Spaced in pairs of_3-ft. rows 9 feet apart——stalks 18 I inches apart in_ rows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1914 23.40 I 22.33 It is seen that the best average yields of corn were had from stalks spaced three by three feet on the land. The variation from year to 2O TExAs AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. year, however, indicates that this difference would not be as large as indicated by the average yield shown in Table 9. These results seem to favor a uniform distribution of plants on the land. CORN VERSUS CORN AND COWPEAS. An experiment was carried during the seasons of 1919- and 1913 to determine the effect of growing an intertilled crop of cowpeas in corn. f 54a Figure 5. Corn in Double 3-Foot Rows, 9 Feet Apart, in Experiment to Deter- mine What Method of Planting Corn‘ Gives Best Yields, June 8, 1913. Accordingly, in 1912, a corn plat planted in rows six feet apart was compared with a corresponding plat of corn in which cowpeas were planted. During 1913 corn plats without cowpeas were compared with other plats of corn with cowpeas, in three different methods of planting corn,-—three-foot rows, six-foot rows and three-foot rows in pairs nine feet apart. Cowpeas were planted throughout this test during the latter part of the growing period of the corn. Paoonnss REPORT OF SUBSTATION N0. 5, 1910-1914. 21 The results secured are ‘shown in the following table: TABLE ll-—CORN VERSUS CORN AND COWPEAS. ;_‘_l____ - Corn Without Corn and Cowpeas. Cowpeas. Yield of Y1eld of Corn 1n Year. Width of Rows. t Corn 1n Bushels Bushels t0 the i t0 the Acre. Acre. I 1912 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6 feet . . . . . . . . . . . ..7 19.91 _ 16.94 g9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6 feet . . . . . . . . . . . ..l 22.73 22.39 #913 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. s feet . . . . . . . . . . . .. 22.84 ' 26.16 K913 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 feet in pairs . . . . . . 21.26 16.94 ' Average . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . t 21.68 20. 60 ss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.08 1:‘ These results indicate that there is practically no difference in the yield of corn when cowp-eas are or are not planted during the latter part of the growing period of the corn. The averages show only a plight difference in favor of the corn grown alone. The crop of cowpeas igrown between the corn rows was worth more than the loss in yield of corn. As is well known, cowpeas enrich the land, and this is usually of value to the succeeding crop, rather than to the crop of corn in which the cowpeas grow. GRASSES. ,_ One of the needs of this section has been a grass that may be grown cultivated land with profit and which has such a nature that the p d may be planted any year thereafter to such crops as cotton and ism without a too great expense of combating the grass. Tests of new {misses introduced from foreign countries, and of hybrid grasses, have gen very satisfactory. v péRhodes grass, introduced into this country from Africa, was tested. 1914 this grass made a yield of 3823 pounds of cured hay to the e, from the first cutting. Rhodes grass produces a very fine quality hay, and it is also a valuable pasture grass. Tests with it will be @tinued. tfSeveral hybrids, produced by crossing Texas bluegrass and Kentucky" egrass, have made satisfactory growth; these plants were sup lied p; the Oflice of Forage Crop Investigations, United States Department .Agriculture, Washington, D. C. There are now on the substation- e distinct hybrids. every one of which has the appearance of being; {value in this region. ' very one in this region knows that rescue grass is very satisfactory l, an early spring pasture. The seed ordinarily retails for about 20' f a pound. Experiments here have given a yield of 380 pounds ed to the acre. At the current price, this seed would be worth $76. SUDAN, udan grass was planted broadcast in 1913 at the rates of twenty and pounds of seed to the acre. The average yields were as follows: TEXAS AGRICULIURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 22 TABLE l2——SUDAN GRASS TEST. Seed Yield in Cured Forage Rate. a i Pounds to the Yield in Pounds Acre. to the Acre. 20 pounds to the acre .~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 516 2800 386 4000 30 poundsjto the acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Figure "6. Sudan Grass Planted May 20, 1913. Photographed August 4. It is seen that the 20-pound seeding gave better seed yields, wheres ‘the 30-pound seeding gave better forage yields. Sudan grass planted in eighteen and 36-inch rows at ten pounds to tl acre in each case showed the following results: PROGRESS REPORT OF SUBSTATION No. 5, 1910-1914. 23 TABLE 13—-SUI’)AN GRASS TEST. Seed Yield in Cured Forage Rate. Pounds to the Yield in Pounds Acre. to the Acre. Planted in 18-inch rows at 10 pounds to the acre. . . . 556_ 2950 Planted 1n 36-inch rows at 1O pounds to the acre... 361 2050 It is seen that the 18-inch row seeding gave better forage and seed yields than did the plantings in 36-inch rows. 9 Sudan grass planted in 1914 gave an average yield of 6534.5 pounds of forage and 147.6 pounds of seed to the acre. It is advised that when planted broadcast thirty pounds of seed be used to the acre, but a better way to raise the crop is to use ten pounds of seed to the acre, planting in rows from three to three and one-half feet wide. Figure 7. Sudan Grass in 3-Foot Rows, June, 1914. Sudan grass is especially valuable for hay, but another very satisfac- tory use for the crop is to use it for grazing purposes. It was intro- duced into the United States by the Office of Forage Crop Investiga- tions, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C., and in co-operation with the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station it was tested at this and other substations, the first success with the crop in the United States being at Substation No. 12, Chillicothe, Texas. Sudan grass has been such a remarkably successful crop that it is now regarded as the best foreign introduction made by the Texas Agri- cultural Experiment Station, in the last ten yrears. Bulletin No. 1'72 of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station gives full details regarding Sudan grass and its culture. 24 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. FERTILIZ ERS AND LIME. ' “Theiests with fertilizers and lime indicate that occasionally some slight benefit may be obtained from lime and from acid phosphate on these soils. These tests were made on land in relatively poor condition and did not give so profitable gains for the amount of time and money used as were secured from rotations With cowpeas, or the gains made by variety selections of crops. DEPTH OF PLOWING EXPERIMENT. Not only do most farmers not plow their land deep enough, but they do not plow it early enough. There are many things to be said in favor of early plowing as a means of equalizing fall farm work and controlling insects; the best thing to say in favor of early fall plowing is that it pays its way. In 1913 fall plowing was compared with winter plowing. This experi- ment resulted in a. small gain in favor of fall plowing. TABLE 14—TIME OF PLOWING TEST WITH COTTON. Yield of Seed Cotton in Pounds t0 the Acre. IDepth Plowcd, Inches. l l , Gain for . Plowed l Plowcd October October. l January. , Plowing. 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 771.14 735.00 i 36.14 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 768.12 751.40 l 16.72 Average gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i i i I ‘In 1913 an experiment was conducted with midwinter plowing to compare deep plowing with ordinary depths of plowing for cotton. The results are very uniform, and are in favor of deep plowing. TABLE 15—DEPTH OF PLOWING TEST. Yield in Pounds Depth Plowed, Inches. Number of of Seed Cotton Plats. to the Acre. l 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 735.00 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 751.00 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 779.15 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 783.50 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 868. l2 The more shallowly plowed plats were cultivated the first time as deep as, or deeper than, they had been plowed. It is thought that but for this fact they would have made even smaller yields than were obtained. This experiment indicates that deep plowing made a very good gain in crop yield. It must be borne in mind that deep plowing costs a great deal in comparison with shallow plowing. The differences noted here, therefore, are not net gain, but are representative simply of the gross or total crop increase received. This substation’s experiments in this Paoomzss ltnrour or SUBSTATION No. 5, 1910-1914. 25 connection are such as to indicate that the “ordinary” plowing and breaking; 1n the Vicinity are not deep» enough. DYNAMITING LAND AS sumo BED PREPARATION. Dyinamiting land as a method of soil and seed-bed preparation lei-as been advocated for many widely diliering regions. Those urging the use of dynamite on agricultural soils claim, among other things, that land thus “blown up” will be deeply shattered, thereby giving drainage, which will be accompanied by deep root penetration, and thus profitable increase in the crops grown will result. Figure 8. Team and“ Equipment Used in Preparing Seedbed, October, 1912. On the type of black upland available for an experiment with dyna- mite on this substation, it was thought that a test of this kind should be made. In the fall of 1911, one-half acre of land was dynamited to determine whether there would be any loss or gain in crop yield because of this practice. An adjoining one-half acre was used in comparison, being treated in every way in the same manner except that it was not dyna- mited. A representative of a company manufacturing explosives did the blasting. The 1912 crop was harvested, but an error was made and the results for that year are not included. The experiment evidence resulting from this dynamite test is as follows: i 26 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. TABLE 16—-COTTON ON DYNAMITED VERSUS NOT DYNAMITED FIELDS. Yield Seed Cotton, Pounds to the Acre. Year. Land Dynamited. Land not Dynamited. 1913 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 600 723.5 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 936 864.0 Average for two years. . . ._ . . . . . . . . . . 768 793.7 The 1914 corn experiment on this land was damaged to such an extent by heavy rains that the stand was scattering and therefore only one_ yeafs results are available. TABLE I7—CORN ON DYNAMITED VERSUS NOT DYNAMITED FIELDS. Yield in Bushels of Corn to the Acre. Year. Land Dynamited. Land Not Dynamited. 1913 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.70 25.75 Loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.05 The loss on the dynamited land is very small and no greater than might have been found in comparing the adjoining half acres if all had been handled exactly alike. There seemed to be just as much lack of drainage on the one piece as on the other. Whether the dynamiting caused the small losses incurred 0r whether these are due to soil vari- ation, it is certain that no increase in yield was made by dynamiting, and that the test was not profitable. SUMMARY. Substation No. 5 of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station is located in Bell county, about midway between Temple and Belton. The farm consists of ninety-six acres. ~ i The average annual rainfall, covering a period of twenty-six years, or from 1889 to 1914, inclusive, is 35.07 inches. During the period covered by this report the rainfall was especially low for the summer months of 1912, 1913, and 1914. The rainfall for the season of 1912 was very much below the normal, while for 1913 and 1914 it was above the average. _ The results included in this bulletin refer to testing, improvement and production studies of corn, cotton, cowpeas, soy beans, grain and forage sorghums, Sudan grass, and rotation work and experiments in which different methods of preparation of soil are compared. Experi- ments with fruits and vegetables were conducted also. Crop rotation has increased the yields both in cotton and corn. Rotation systems are recommended. Crop rotation has lessened the loss due to cotton root-rot disease, as has also deep plowing. Land PROGRESS REPORT 0F SUBSTATION N0. 5, 1910-1914. 27 cropped continuously to cotton showed a loss of 59 per cent. due to root-rot disease, whereas cotton grown in rotation showed only six-tenths of 1 per cent. loss. In the variety test of cotton, Lone Star has given the best results. A cowpea variety test for seed showed the best yields for New Era, Brabham, Iron, and Whippoorwill. A variety test of cowpeas for for- age showed the best yields for Iron, Clay, Whippoorwill, and Brabham. A test including nine varieties of soy beans, through a period of three years, showed very low yields in all varieties tested, indicating that the varieties grown were not suitable to this climate and section of the State. ' The grain sorghums have been grown satisfactorily as catch cro, s. For this purpose feterita is one of the best varieties. Of the sweet sorghums, the sumac or red top has made uniformly better yields of forage and hay than other varieties tested. Experiments in growing sorghum-legume mixtures do not indicate that satisfactory results will be secured from such mixtures. The re- sults indicate that it is better to grow each crop alone. The corn variety test, embracing forty-eight varieties in 1913 and eighty-two varieties in 1914, shows Sureropper, Mammoth White, Cater’s corn, U. S. Selection '77, and Chisholm to be the best yielders, in the order mentioned. A test of individual ears of the same variety of corn has shown some very interesting results, which when summarized indicate that seed corn should be selected from tall, leafy plants which are relatively heavily stalked with heavy ears and deep grains. Corn seeding rate tests showed best results when plants were spaced thirty to forty inches apart in regular 36-inch rows. When the same number of stalks of corn were grown on an acre, but spaced differently in rows of varying widths, it was found that the best yields of corn to the acre were secured from stalks spaced regularly three feet apart in rows three feet wide. A comparison of the yields when corn alone was planted, or when corn and cowpeas were planted, showed that corn gave a slightly smaller crop when cowpeas were planted between the rows, as compared with corn grown alone. It is thought that the resulting crop of cowpeas was worth more than the slight loss in the corn. One of the needs of this section has been a grass crop adapted to planting in rotation with the usual farm crops. Tests of hybrid grasses and newly introduced grasses from foreign countries have been very satisfactory. - Rhodes grass is a promising new introduction. Sudan grass produced a yield of 6534 pounds of cured forage to the acre. For broadcast planting, thirty pounds of seed to the acre gave the largest yield of Sudan grass. It is advised that the crop be planted in rows, using ten pounds of seed to the acre. Sudan grass is a valuable grazing crop. 28 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. Fertilizers and lime have not given as profitable gains in crop pro~ duction as has been gotten by rotation or by the use of improved crops. Experiments are reported which show that early plowing and deep plowing gave larger crops of cotton than were secured from late plow- ing or shallow plowing. Experiments in the use of dynamite as a means of fitting the soil for crops are reported and show that in both corn and cotton the land treated with dynamite made smaller yields than when dynamite was not used. The use of dynamite on this land did not give better surface drainage than where dynamite was not used. ACKNOWLEDGMENT. During the greater part of the period covered by this report, Mr. A. K. Short was Superintendent of Substation No. 5, and it is desired to give him due credit for conducting the experiments and recording the (lat-i presented herein.