A l67-917-9m TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIEMENT STATION BULLETIN NO. 218 SEPTEMBER, 1917 PROGRESS REPORT, SUBSTATION NO. 1, SPUR, TEXAS 1909-1914 B. YOUNGBLOOD, DIRECTOR, COLLEGE STATION, BRAZOS COUNTY, TEXAS. i ' ' A A \ I v "] "\"" ' A" ' - ' » . ‘ W. B. BizzELL, A. M., D. C. L., President TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS JOHN I. GuioN, Ballinger, Rf8Sld€l1i_ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Term expires 1919 L. JgHARr, San Antonio, Vice-President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Term expires 1919 E. H. ASTIN, Bryan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Term expires 1919 J. R. KuBENA, Fayetteville. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Term expires 1921 A. B. DAviDsoN, Cuero. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Term expires 1921 W1LL A. MiLLER, JR., Amarillo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Term expires 1921 JoiiN C. DICKSON, Paris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Term expires 1923 H. A. BREIHAN, Bartlett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Term expires 1923 F. M. LAw, Houston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Term expires 1923 MAIN STATION COMMITTEE L. J. HART. Chairman WiLL A. MILLER, JR. GOVERNING BOARD, STATE SUBSTATIONS P. L. DowNs, President, Temple. . . . ._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .T ' 1919 CRARLEs RocAN, Vice-President, Austin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tgiiliil Zigiig: 1923 W. P. HOBBY, Beaumont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Term expires 1919 J. E. Booc~Sco'i'r, Coleman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Term expires 1921 STATION STAFF* ADMINISTRATION _ B. YOUNGBLOOD, M. S., Director A. B. CoNNER, B. S., Vice Director CHAS. A. FELKER. Chief Clerk A. S. WARE, Secretary _ W. T. BRINK, Executive Assistant. DIVISION OF VETERINARY SCIENCE _ **M. FRANcis, D. V. S., Veterinarian in Charge _ _ H. SCHMIDT, D. V. M., Veterinarian DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY _ . FRAPS, Ph. D., Chemist in Charge; State Chemist _ _ W. T. P. SPROTT, B. S., Assistant Chemist CiiARLEs BuciiwALD, M. S., Assistant Chemist _ C. R. FISCHER, B. S., Assistant Chemist DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE H. NEss, M. S., Horticulturist in Charge W. S. HOTCHKISS, Horticulturist DIVISION OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY J. C. BURNs, B. S., Animal Husbandman, Feeding Investigations J. M. JONEs, A. M., Animal Husbandman, Breeding Investigations **L. B. BURK,B. S., Animal Husbandman, Swine Investigations. DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY _ F. B. PADDOCK, M. S., Entomologist in Charge; State Entomologist _ H. J. REINHARD, 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. urle- son, Waxahachie; W. C. Collier, Goliad; E. W. Cothran, Roxton; G. F. Davidson, Pleasanton; John Donegan, Seguin; A. R. Graham, Milan-o; J. B. King, Bates- ville; N. G. LeGear, Waco; R. A. Little, Pearsall; 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; H. A. Jones, Oakville; . A. Bowdon, Palestine; George J. Elam, Marlin; E. R. Jones, Beeville. DIVISION OF AGRONOMY .A. B. CoNNER, B. S., Agronomist in Charge A. H. LEIDIGI-I, B. S., Agronomist ***H. H. JoBsoN, B. S , Agronomist Louis WERMELSKIRCHEN, B. S., Agronomist DIVISION OF PLANT PATHOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY J. J. TAUBENI-IAUS, Ph. D., Plant Patholo- gist and Physiologist in Charge 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 DIVISION OF DAIRYING W A. DOUBT, Dairgman in Charge DIVISION OF FEED CONTROL SERVICE JAMES SULLIVAN, Executive Secretary J. H. RooERs, Inspector W. H. WooD, Inspector S. D. PEARcE, Inspector W. M. WICKES, Inspector SUBSTATION NO. 1: Beeville, Bee County I. E. COWART, M. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 2: Troup, Smith County W. S. HOTCHKISS, Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 3: County N. E. WiNrERs, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 4: County H. H. LAUDE, B. S., Superintendent J. B. CocKRELL, B. S., Scientific Assistant SUBSTATION NO. 5: Temple, Bell County D. T. KILLOUGH, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION No. 6: Denton, Denton County C. H. McDowELL, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 7: Spur, Dickens County R. E. DICKSON, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 8: Lubbock, Lubbock County R. E. KARPER, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 9: Pecos, Reeves County J. W. JAcKsoN, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. l0: (Feeding and Breed- ing Substation) College Station, Brazos _ County _ E._R. SPENCE, B. S., Animal Husbandman, in Charge of Farm SUBSTATION NO. 11: doghes County G. T. McNEss, Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 12: Chillicothe, Harde- man County ****R. W. EDWARDS, B. S., Superintendent V. E. HAFNER, B. S., Scientific Assistant SUBSTATION NO. ounty _ E. M. PETERS, B. S., Acting sllp¢fifll8lltltllf Angleton, Brazoria Beaumont, Jefferson Nacogdoches, Nacog- l4: Sonora, Sutton CLERICAL ASSISTANTS J. M. SciiAEDEL, Stenogra her DAISY LEE, Registration lerk W. F. CHRISTIAN, Stenographer E. E. KILBQRN, Stenographer C. L. DURsT, Mailing Clerk A. T. JACKSON, Copyist CARL ABELL, Scientific Assistant R. C. FRANKs, Copgist \V. L. HEARN, Slenographer. M. B. GARDNER, Stenographer MAE BELLE EVANS, Stenographer *As of September 1, 1917. **In cooperation with A. and M. College of Texas. ***On leave. ****In cooperation with United States Department of Agriculture. CONTENTS. PAGE it Rainfall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .( . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 l Dates of Killing Frost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 j Agronomic Experiments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 10 f Alfalfa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1O u Four-year-old alfalfa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 11 ‘ ; Preparation of seedbed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 12 Method of planting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 12 Variety test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 13 ' Cultivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 14 5 A Cutting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 14 g Curing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 l Sudan Grass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 14 h Method of planting for hay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 15 j Rate-of-seeding test for hay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1'5 l l Method of planting for seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 15 Seeding rate test for seed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 16 Q Grain Sorghums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 1 Grain sorghums for silage crops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1'7 Seeding rate experiments with milo and kafir . . . . . . . . . . . . 17’ Method of planting experiments with milo and kafir . . . . . . 18 g Qate-of-planting milo experiments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19 I“ Feterita selections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19 Sorgo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19 Rate-of-seeding test with sorgo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 20 Cotton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 21 Variety test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 21 Cotton thinning experiment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 22 Corns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 23 Small Grains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 23 "l Cowpeas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 24 When and How to Plow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 It Date of plowing as preparation of seedbed test with cotton 25 Date of plowing as preparation of seedbed test for sumac sorghum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 25 Date of plowing experiment with cowpeas . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 26 ll Method of preparing seedloed for milo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 26 Method of preparing seedbed for cotton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2'7 Fertility Conservation Experiments, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 29 Orchard Fruits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Sheep Breeding and Feeding . . . . . . ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3i) Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 31 _ l] ' it ll l! 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 Agronornist, for painstaking Work in checking figures and editing this and other substation progress reports, and grateful acknowledgment is hereby made. l \ B. YOUNGBLOOD, Director. BULLETIN No. 218i SEPTEMBER, 1917 PROGRESS REPORT, SUBSTATION N0. 7, SPUR, TEXAS R. E. Dickson, Superintendent. Sub-station N0. 7 of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station was established December 11, 1909, one mile west of Spur, Dickens county, Texas. Spur is located on the Wichita. Valley Railroad, sixteen miles east of the Caprock bordering the plains of Northwest Texas; longitude 100 degrees and 49 minutes west, latitude 30 degrees and 26 minutes north. The substation is composed of 160 acres. The land is typical of a large part of this section of Texas. The soil is of a heavy type, re- sembling the Vernon series,‘ and is known in West Texas as “tight.” This soil locally has long been generally considered of less value for agricultural purposes than the lighter soils. It is fairly rich in plant food and lime, but is deficient in humus. Before cultivation the land was covered with a. heavy sod of buffalo, grama. and mesquite grasses, and with a few scattering mesquite trees. The surface drainage of the farm is excellent. The Jand wras put in cultivation and improvements and equipment added as rapidly as funds permitted. Practically all the experiments conducted here are in direct relation to field crops, soils, and sheep feeding a11d breeding. - In the spring of 1910 the property was fenced, 7O acres were cleared and plowed, an orchard consisting of 27 varieties of fruit, totaling 243 trees, was planted, and 22 crop tests were carried out. Most of these tests, however, were of a preliminary nature. Part of the sod plowed late was not planted to a crop, but was summer fallowed and replowed as the season progressed. The year 1910 was dry. In the fall of 1910 variety tests of small grain and alfalfa were seeded. Alfalfa was again seeded in the spring of 1911, and the field. seeded at that time is still in a vigorous condition. The 1911 season was normal as regards rainfall. Crop tests numbering 85 were car- ried out. In 1912, experiments numbering 269 were conducted with field crops and 77 additional fruit trees were planted. The preliminary cultural and variety tests were becoming of some value and the real investiga- tional activities of the substation were in fact started. In 1913 and 1914, the scope of the work was much broader, there being in 1914 over 600 tests and experiments under way. Late in 1914 the sheep investigations were started and additional improvements added for this line of work. In the early history of the substation, equipment for experiment Work was lacking, but sufficient farm tools and implements have been pro- 8 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. cured, although much equipment is still needed in scientific investi- gation. The permanent improvements consist of two farm laborers’ houses, a superintendent’s cottage, a combined office and laboratory, an imple- ment shed, a barn and sheep sheds. The fields and pastures are fenced with hog-proof fencing. l RAINFALL. The rainfall of this region is best shown by a combination of the official records of the United States weather bureau, at Mount Blanco, Crosby county, 20 miles from Spur, With the Spur records of the United States weather bureau observer prior to the time when weather instru- ments were placed on the substation, together with the records of the substation since Weather records have been kept. Fig. 1.—Meteorological Instruments, Substation No. 7, 1914. A continuous record for 2O years is available which was obtained as follows: Mount Blanco, January, 1895, to April, 1911. i Spur, May, 1911, to August, 1913. * Substation No. '7, September, 1913, to December, 1914. i This 20-year record shows a normal annual rainfall of 21.73 inches. ‘ Table 1, taken from the above described data, shows the average monthly rainfall for the six winter months to be 6.56 inches, and that for the six summer months to be 15.17 inches. This seasonal distribu- tion of rainfall is an important factor in crop production, since it prac- tically governs the period of crop growth and to a considerable extent influences all crop production activities. Complete meterological rec- ords are now being kept as a part of the substation’s activities. i . . . .. _ l. PRoeREss REPORT, SUBSTATIOX No. 7 SPUR TEXAS. 9 J 9 t TABLE 1. RAINFALL AVERAGE FOR TWENTY YEARS BY SEASONS, 1895-1914. Six Fall and Winter Six Spring and Summer Months. ‘ Inches. Months. Inches. October . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.03 April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.80 November . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.33 May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.57 December . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82 June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .- . . . . . . . . 3.18 January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 July . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . j . . . . . . . 3.73 February . . . . . . . . . . . . . '. . . . . . . . . . 1.10 August . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.08 March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84 September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.81 Total (6 months) . .‘ . . . . . . . . . . 6.56 - Total (6 months) . . . . . . . . . . 15.17 DATES or KILLING FROST. The date of the last killing frost in the spring has a great deal to do with the fruit crops, and the first killing frost in the fall often cuts a cotton crop short especially if the crop is late or if there is a heavy top crop. Records of the years 1911 to 1914, inclusive, show the aver- age f~or the last spring frost to be on March 18, and the first killing frost of the fall t0 be on October 25. This is a growing period of 220 days, or twice as long as is required for milo. to mature under average conditions. Table 2 shows the dates of killing frost. TABLE 2. DATES OF KILLING FROST. Year. Last in Spring. First in Fall. 1911 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. March 19 October 22 "1912. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. March 11 October 23 1913 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. March 1 A October 27 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 9 October 29 Average . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. March 18 October 25 The years covered by this report have had the usual variable supply of moisture typical of this region. a The rainfall in 1912 was 15.05 inches, or about 6 inches below nor- mal. During May, June and September enough rainfall was received to be of benefit to growing crops. July was very dry. y The rainfall for 1913 was approximately normal, there being 21.20 inches. There was a dry spring and summer; only one period of ade- .Lquate rainfall occurred before September, this being in June. All crops were late a.nd much of the experiment work resulted in a failure, although there was enough rain for the production of early types of grain sorghums and of sorghums for roughage. \ Many of the experiments reported herein were conducted in 1914, l; when there was an abundance of moisture, the rainfall for the year being 34.63 inches, with heavy and continuous rains in the latter part l of May. As a result of the abundant rainfall the land became rather compact and replanting was necessary in some cases. The crop yields, of course, "were large. l? l i l 1' l l é E it 10 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. AGRONOBIIC EXPERIMENTS. That part of the farm used for crop experiments is laid out and operated as an out 0f doors laboratory. It is divided into 50 perma- nently marked one-acre blocks and cropped regularly according to defi- nite rotation plans. As a result of this policy, experiments of any given nature may be compared from year to year, and crops which are- particularly diflicult to produce may be planted in that part of the rotation which is especially favorable to their growth. The experiment work reported in this bulletin has practically all been conducted in one-tenth-acre plats 2X8 rods in dimension, or in rows 1/110 or 1/44 of an acre in size and repeated several times. The seedbed preparation and intertillage operations have consisted of the best work possible except in experiments necessitating a com-e parison of definite seedbed preparation practice. At times possibly more work has been done in plowing and cultivation than later investi~ a gations may show is justified. The soil conditions are such, however, i that the attempt has been made through good tillage to secure a reserve of moisture, obtain a good stand of the crop in question and give it good, clean intertillage. have been surprisingly large is in part due to seasonal influences. That the amount and size of the crops raised Practical investigation, rather than research work, has been the policy" 7 during the early period of the substation’s activities, and hence many‘ elementary agricultural problems have been given attention. Much" valuable information has been acquired and it is the purpose of this‘ report to present some of it in a brief way. A number of lines of agronomic investigations have been started, in addition to those herein- reported upon, and are of necessity not taken up here because they have not as yet led to definite conclusions. Some of these investigations will have to be continued several years before results will be achieved, and the facts set forth in this first report will be modified and rendered ‘~ more valuable the longer the investigations are continued. _ Agronomic experiments are reported here on: Alfalfa Sudan grass Grain sorghums Forage sorghums Cotton Cowpeas Methods of seedbed preparation Manuring. - ALFALFA. Since this is a live stock section, which produces dependable grain»; and forage sorghum feed crops, it is felt that a reliable perennial drouth‘ resistant legume is much needed to supplement the feeds not so rich; in protein. In addition to furnishing a much needed supplemental high protein feed, such a perennial legume is needed to aid in soil fer- tility conservation. The use of such a crop would therefore not only p a 1: a . . ‘I v1 niil§mnv PROGRESS REPORT, SUBSTATION No. '7, SPUR, TExAs. 11 at once aid the live stock interests, but would also assist materially in the maintenance of soil fertility. A number of perennial legumes have been tested, and of these alfalfa is unquestionably the most successful here; in fact, the results obtained are such that its successful production here is regarded as certain. Alfalfa has a prominent place in the crops of economic value- on a farm and gives a net return which compares favorably with any crop. As a hay for cows, horses and sheep it is unsurpassed, and for grazing of hogs it has many advantages. Northwest Texas has every advantage in producing this legume. The soil is naturally inoculated with the nodule-forming bacteria and there is an abundance of lime in the soil. The atmosphere makes it possible to field-cure a. bright hay of the very best quality in a comparatively short time, and there is hardly a farm Fig. \2.—First cutting of Large Field of Alfalfa, 1914. This Field Was Planted in the Spring of 1911. in this entire region where there are not a few acres well adapted to alfalfa. This crop, once established, lives for many years. This in- sures its greatest usefulness as a dry land crop, since there are- none of the dangers and risks of reseeding and loss of a stand due to tem- porary drouth. In fact, alfalfa, besides being an extraordinary val- uable crop, is excellently adapted to the variable climate. Foitr-Year-Old Alfalfa. A field of alfalfa now four years old has undoubtedly been the most valuable contribution of this substation to Texas agriculture. The yields in 1914 are shown in Table 3. 12 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. TABLE 3._ FOUR-YEAR-OLD ALFALFA. HAY CROP, 1914. Planted March 15, 1911. _ Yield in Tons Cutting. Date Cut. 0f Cured Hay to the Acre First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. June 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.19 Second . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93 Third . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . August 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79 Fourth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . October 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. 74 Preparation. of Seedbed. In establishing alfalfa in this section the - preparation of the seedbed is ‘of the greatest importance. If a. moist, well tilled seedbed can be secured in the fall, then fall planting is much morc desirable and much more likely to give a permanent stand of alfalfa than spring seeding, as spring seedlings not only must com- pete with Weeds, but are subject to severe injury by winds which are common here during the spring season. ' A seedbed for fall seeding should be summer fallowed after a deep winter or spring plowing. By September 1 it should be firm to Within an inch of the surface. A drag harrow should be used for cultivating the land during the later summer. A disk harrow should not be used on the field late in the summer; if it is used just before seeding time, it will loosen the soil to a depth of four or five inches and allow it to > dry out. Seeding should. be done in September. Every opportunity should be given the young alfalfa plants quickly to make a deep root system. After a good stand is secured and the roots are Well established, the greatest problems of growing alfalfa, in this part of Texas, have been solved. Method of Planting. In the fall. of 1913 each of five varieties of alfalfa were planted in three different ways in duplicate plats, there being 3O plats in all. Four pounds of seed to the acre were used for all plats. Averaging each two plats for each variety the test resulted as shown in Table 4. TABLE 4. METHOD or PLANTING. Yield in Tons of Cured Hay Method of Planting Five Varieties of Alfalfa. ‘ to the Acre. Close drills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.27 18-inch rows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 1.42 36-inch rows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.22 There was a very good supply of moisture during the season of 1914, and probably in a dry season the row plantings would have made a comparatively better record. To date, however, planting in rows for the purpose of cultivating is not advised. PROGRESS‘ REPORT, SUBSTATION No. '7, SPUR, TEXAS. 13 Planting may be done by broadcasting and harrowing in, or the seed may be drilled with an alfalfa drill or small grain drill. Experiments are under way to determine what kind of alfalfa is best for this region. Variety Test. Six varieties of alfalfa were planted in the fall of 1913 in- a variety test, being planted in two plats each in close drills. The results of the variety test are shown in Tables 5 and 6. TABLE 5. ALFALFA VARIETY TEST. In close drills. Planted fall of 1913. Rate of seeding, 4 pounds seed to the acre._ _ Seed from Ofiice of Forage Crop Investigations, Washington, D. C. T. S. Variety. Number Plats Yield Tons Cured Hay to the No. Averaged. Acre, 1914 Crop, Three Cuttings. a 299 Turkestan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2.96 300 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2.50 1709 Dry Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2.40 302 Grimm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 .93 303 Sand Lucerne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 .80 301 Province . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1.72 Five of the varieties mentioned in the foregoing table were planted in two plats, ’each in three different ways, as shown in Table 4. There were, however, six plats for each variety. One variety, T. S. No. 302, was planted only in close drills. (See Table 5.) The yields made by the five varieties, as an average of all different methods of plantings, are shown in Table 6. TABLE s. ALFALFA VARIETY TEST, IN THREE DIFFERENT METHODS or PLANTING, 1914. Planted fall of 191s. Rate of seeding, 4 pounds of seed to the acre. _ Seed from Office of Forage Crop Investigations, Washington, D. C. T. S. Number Plats Yield Tons Cured Hay to the No. Variety. Averaged. Acre Three Cuttings. 299 Turkestan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1709 Dry Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303 Sand Lucerne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301 Province . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 005G500 b-lrdl-llQlQ 0OO\l0(-0 £00900 The sowing of 20 pounds of alfalfa seed to the acre, as often recom- mended, is a waste of seed. If the soil is in proper condition and the climatic conditions favorable, 10 pounds to the acre will give a sufii- cient stand. Good results have been secured on this substation with four pounds to the acre. It is hardly advisable to seed alfalfa on a piece of land that is in such a poor state of cultivation or so- lacking in soil moisture as to necessitate the use of 20 pounds of good seed to the acre. 1‘. -£} .. ‘in u‘ 1 l; ‘s , . _ k, $3 14 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIoN. Cultivation. The frequent use of the disk harrow on alfalfa fields may give temporarily increased yields, but the damage to the crowns frequently so weakens the vitality of the plant as t0 shorten its life. Where possible, a special alfalfa cultivator should be used and it should be adjusted so as to damage the crowns to the least possible extent. The spike tooth drag harrow gives good results when heavily weighted and used on alfalfa over a year old. The spring tooth harrow is one of the best implements for the cultivation of alfalfa. Good cultivation should be given before the plant starts growth in the spring and other cultivati.ons may be given after each harvest provided there is not a crop of young buds coming out that will be injured. Cutting. Alfalfa should be cut for hay when it is in just the proper condition. Three indications may be observed to secure the maximum amountof the best quality of hay. These are: 1. When the leaves begin to turn yellow at the base. 2. When the alfalfa is fairly well started in blossom. 3. When new buds or sprouts begin to form on the crown. Cutting. The curing of alfalfa hay depends to a great extent on con- ditions, and hardly two cuttings can be pro-perly cured the same way. The one idea to be kept. in view is to save the largest amount of leaves possible. This is usually accomplished best by placing the alfalfa in windrows soon after it is cut. If cured in the swath the hay will be hard, brittle and sunburned and many of the leaves will shatter off in handling. Curing in windrows causes the hay to retain the bright green color and saves practically all the leaves. The hay is ready to be stored in a mow or baled or stacked when no juice may be squeezed from a twisted bunch of stems. This condition may be secured here in from 36 to 60 hours after cutting. SUDAN GRASS. Sudan grass was introduced int.o the United States by the Office of Forage Crops Investigations, United States Department of Agriculture, and grown first on the cooperative TexasAgricultural Experiment Sta- tion and United States Department of Agriculture farm at Chillicothe, Texas. From that farm it has been sent all over the country. It is regarded as the most striking instance of forage crop introduction ever carried out by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. Bulletin No. 172 of this station gives full information as to Sudan grass, and its insect enemies are discussed in Circular No. '7, new series. Sudan grass was first tested on this substation in 1912. The sea- son’s rainfall was low, but a yield of 3000 pounds of cured hay to the acre was secured as an average of three different plats planted, in close drills. The 1918 crop was late, owing to unfavorable rainfall. It pro~ duced a heavy crop that year, but because of stormy weather at harvest- ing time and consequent wetting and spoiling of parts of the crop it Pnoennss REPORT, SUBSTATION N0. '7, SPUR, TExAs. 15 was impossible to Weigh accurately the various experiment lots. The 1914 crop was heavy. I The results of experiments of value with Sudan grass conducted’ on this substation follow. Method 0f Planting for Hay, 1911,. In a test for the best method of planting Sudan for hay, 18-inch rows, broadcast, and 36-inch rows gave the highest yields in the order named. TABLE 1., METHOD or PLANTING SUDAN GRASS FOR HAY, 1914. Seeding rate, 12 pounds to the acre. Method. Number Plats. Yield in Tons to the Acre. l 18-inch rows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4.927 Broadcast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4.551 36-inch rows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .'. . . . . . . . . 2 4.204 When we take into consideration the ease of planting and harvesting, it seems evident that rows about as narrow as may Well be worked— say three feet wid.e—are to be preferred for Sudan. Rate of Seéding Test for Hag, 1911,. In a seeding rate test of Sudan A for hay in close drills, 14 pounds of seed to the acre gave heavier yields than '7, 18, 22, 32, or 4O pounds. TABLE s. SUDAN GRASS RATE or snnnmc; TEST r012 HAY, 1914. Rate. Pounds. Number Plats. Yield in Tons to the Acre. 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 .92 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 5.14 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4.94 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 5.02 32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 5.02 40 . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 5.04 While the crop in close drills was very satisfactory, it must be re- membered that the season was not a dry one,_and that future work may indicate the necessity of growing this crop in rows. Because of the very great success of-Sudan grass as a hay and pasture crop, there- is a. market for the seed. .In fact, it seems that Central Texas will continue to furnish a good market for seed. As the Sudan grass cross-fertilizes with the other sorghums, including Johnson grass, it is important that seed fields be reasonably well iso- lated from these other crops, to the end that the buyer may be assured that he is not buying low grade or hybrid Johnson grass seed. This part of Texas is adapted to the production of Sudan grass seed, as is shown by the experiments in seed production in Tables 9 and 10. Method 0f Planting for Seed, .1914. In a test for the best method of ‘planting Sudan for seed, the highest yields were obtained in the fol- lowing order: Close drills, 36-inch rows, 18-inch rows. “l: $14. *'5‘"-_":“€="'~_~===!v=a=r:>=nv - : -_ _ it =| ‘ \9¢J3\’:‘"‘ moaflfllawinimv'..zlwti.<.w iiwxnawrau». L t... vlnbfldvnivlrsdwnvm- “w. .2... =.._a.w*-............. TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. TABLE 9. METHOD OF PLANTING SUDAN GRASS FOR SEED, 1914. Method. Number Plats. Yield Pounds to the Acre. Close drills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36-inch rows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-inch rows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In a year of less rainfall than 1914 it is doubtful if the close drill. inethod would give as large a crop as could be obtained in 36-inch rows where cultivation could be given. In view of the labor and costs involved in harvesting the crop, it appears that the row method of planting is to be preferred. Seeding Rate Test for Seed, 1914. In a seeding rate test of Sudan for seed in close drills, 22 pounds of seed t0 the acre gave heavier yields than 7, 14, 18, 32 or 40 pounds to the acre. TABLE l0. SUDAN GRASS SEEDING RATE TEST FOR SEED, 1914. In close drills. Rate. Pounds to the Acre. ‘ Number Plats. ’ Yield Pounds to the Acre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1017 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1154 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1141 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1209 32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1113 40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 797 This experiment indicates that in planting fo-r seed production, if the crop is planted in close drills, the seeding should be at the rate of 14 to 22 pounds to the acre. Sudan grass gives indication of being one of the best annual pasture grasses for this region. GRAIN SORGHUMS. In 1912 seven varieties of grain sorghums, in 35 experiment plats, were used in a test of varieties for seed production. Feterita was most satisfactory, but owing to lack of equipment accurate comparative rec- ords were not kept. _ I In 1913 the variety test included 10 varieties. The long drouth in the spring made the crop very late and only three varieties matured seed. The yield of heads was obtained but the yields of grain in bushels to the acre are figured on a percentage basis. In 1914 thirteen grain sorghums, consisting of four varieties of milo, six varieties of kafir, a variety of feterita, a variety of shallu and a dura-kafir hybrid, were tested in single rows 330 feet long and three feet apart. The entire experiment was repeated four times. Milo, T. S. No. 1645, white variety, produced the heaviest yield with 73.93 ' i bushels of threshed grain to the acre. Milo, T. S. No. 6'70, dwarf .; ‘aailgnn? -' He‘ l ‘ l. ' . . ' A .. ... wv._;,,,, m, Qnflnq-ae‘ uhsma-‘G M... 1.. i. a... .1 ~|l. .1 s. . r PROGRESS REPORT, SUBSTATION No. '7, SPUR, TEXAS. 17 yellow, was second with a yield of 68.71 bushels of threshed grain to the acre, and is probably a better variety than the highest yielder of 1914, due t0 its being more dwarf. The four milos averaged 61.31 bushels to the acre and the six kafirs averaged 40.93 bushels t0 the acre of threshed grain, 0r the milo produced 49.8 per cent more grain than the kafirs. The results from the 1913 and 1914 variety tests give a two-year average. Several of the late maturing varieties did-not mature seed in 1913 and this makes the results very much in favor of the earlier vari- eties. There are ‘occasional years, like 1913, however, and it is neces- sary to include them in average calculations. Table 11 gives the yields of the better yielding varieties tested in 1913 and 1914. TABLE ll. GRAIN SORGUM VARIETY TEST, 1913 AND 1914. Yield Grain in Bushels to the Acre. Variety. 1913 1914 Average 1913-1914 Dwarf Yellow Milo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32.46 68 . 71 50. 58 Feterita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.98 54.18 ' 40.58 Dwarf White Milo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.91 49. 74 37.32 Shallu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0. 47 .64 23.82 Red Kafir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 36 57 18 28 Pink Kafir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0. 24.45 12.22 Dura-Kafir Hybrid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O. 24.21 12. 1O White Milo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0. 73.93 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kafir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. O 55.23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Jerusalem Corn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Grain So/rghyms for Silzmga (Traps. As it is frequently necessary or desirable to use the grain sorghums as silage crops, the variety test in 1914 was so handled that the weight of total fresh green crop was de- termined. The results are shown in Table 12. All of the important ones among these varieties are reported upon as grain crops, in Table 11. It is of interest to note that the yields compare favorably with those a of the forage sorghums, reported in Table 14. TABLE 12. GRAIN SORGHUM VARIETY TEST FOR SILAGE PRODUCTION, 1914. ’Average Acre Yield. _ Variety. Tons Green Forage. Bushels Grain. Red Kafir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ‘ 15.46 36.57 Kafir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.52 55.23 Dwarf Kafir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.27 36.63 Blackhull Kafir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.32 45.92 Dwarf Yellow Milo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.62 68.71 Feterita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.32 54.18 Dwarf Blackhull Kafir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.19 46.79 Dwarf Milo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.13 52.86 White Milo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.84 73.93 Pink Kafir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.65 24.45 Dura X Kafir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.58 24.21 Dwarf White Milo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.27 49 74 Shallu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.27 47 64 Seeding Rate Experiments with Milo and Kafir. In a rate of seed- ing test with milo and kafir with a desired stand of a single plant, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 2O inches apart in three-foot rows, it was not possible l‘ l l ti _ <--==_‘;->-‘ -_-.-_..—~ _ ~ .-s_.~._.;v~ hagmrgaaw¢ l»? g t 3 a 1 A 18 TExAs AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. to secure stands exactly as planned. The results are presented in Tables 13 and 14, the plats being. grouped according to the exact stand of plants in the row as based 0n measurements and counts of each plat. It is very desirable t0 have data 0n this Work covering a period of years, as the rate that Will give a fair yield every year is to be pre- ferred to the Q>ne that Will give a big yield a good year and a total failure in a bad one. TABLE 13. RATE OF SEEDING TEST WITH DWARF MILO, 1914. Rows three feet apart. Average Seeding Rate, Number of Plats Yield in Bushels Rank. Inches in the Row. Averaged. to the Acre. 4.55 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 48.30 3 8.60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 48.04 4 11 .20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 68 .21 1 15.60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 62.01 2 19.20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 44.11 5 TABLE 14. RATE OF SEEDING TEST WITH BLACKHULL KAFIR, 1914. Rows three feet apart. Average Seeding Rate, Number of Plats Yield in Bushels Inches in the Row. Averaged. to the Acre. Rank. 4.75 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 44.82 3 7.80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 50.18 2 11.80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 37.73 4 14.30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 56.51 1 19.60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 31.43 5 The heaviest yields Were obtained With milo spaced 11.2 inches apart in the row, which produced 76.4 bushels of grain t0 the acre. sThe second best yield was from plants spaced 15.6 inches apart in the row. The better quality of milo With larger heads came from the thinner seeded plats. The kafir spaced 14.3 inches apart in the row gave the highest yield, and the next highest yield Was ‘from plants spaced 7.8 inches apart in the roW._ M ethod-of-Planting Experiments with Milo and Kafir. In 1914 milo and kafir Were planted in both three-foot and six-foot roWs, the plats having the same number of stalks to the acre. Milo produced 8.07 per cent and kafir 35.18 per cent more grain in the narrow rows than in the Wide ones. The heads Were larger and the grain Was of better quality in the Wide rows. The inference from this experiment is that, at least in such a year as 1914, the plants should be uniformly distributed on the la.nd. TABLE 15. METHOD OF PLANTING MILO TEST, 1914. Method of Planting. | Yield in Bushels to the Acre. Three-foot rows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50.53 Six-foot rows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46.45 PROGRESS REPORT, SUBSTATION No. '7, SPUR, TEXAS. 19 TABLE 16. METHOD OF PLANTING KAFIR TEST, 1914. Method of Planting. Yielyd in Bushels to the Acre. Three-foot rows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46.28 Six-foot rows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.00 Date-of-Panting Milo Experiments, 1914. ‘In 1914 a dwarf yellow milo was planted in triplicate plats at intervals of 15 days during the growing season as nearly as weather conditions would permit. Data over a period of years with varying climatic conditions would be neces- sary, however, before a conclusion could be drawn as to- the best time to plant milo. TABLE 11. DATE OFPLANTING TEST WITH MILO. Date of Planting. Yield in Bushels to the Acre. May 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 51.59 May 2O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 33.65 June 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 36.01 June 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 36.21 uly 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 33.26 July 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 21 44 FeiW-‘ita Selections, 191.4. Forty-seven selections of desirable plants have been made from a field of feterita, with the purpose of developing a strain of superior quality. Among the things selected for were dwarf- ness, leafiness, earliness, strong stalk, freedom from suckers, and a strain that would not shatter its grain. These selectio-ns will be run in a head-to-row test and if a selection of superior quality is developed it will be increased and distributed. . Feterita is in many respects a very desirable grain sorghum. Like Sudan grass, it was introduced into the United States from Africa by the United States Department of Agriculture. The success of feterita, as was the case with Sudan grass, was first proved in the United States in experiments at Substation No. 12, Chillicothe, Texas, where cooper- ative experiments are under way. SORGO. The sorgos, sometimes called cane, a sweet sorghum, have been the standard dependable roughage crops of this region. The introduction of kafir, milo, feterita and Sudan grass may possibly lessen the use of sorgos for dry rough feed, but they are of great value for silage, and the later maturing sorts, such as Sumac and Orange, will be used for that purpose. In 1913 the variety test of sorgo included five varieties, ranging in growing period from very early to very late. These tests were repeated three times. In 1914 the same varieties were again tested, there being six plats each of "part of the varieties and five plats each of others. The data from the two seasons’ tests _are given in Tables 18 and 19. ~ ~v....-¢-..>.»a.\... y. i i i i 4 e .\ 3i o‘ 9 s l i i r .5 1 s i l. f. i 2-0 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. TABLE 18. VARIETY TEST OF SORGO FOR CURED ROUGHAGE. Planted 6 t0 1O inches apart in 3-foor rows, in 1913. Planted 3 1-2 to 4 1-2 inches apart in 3~foot rows, in 1914. Yield Tons Cured Roughage to the Acre Variety. Average Days Growing Average 1913-1914. Period, 1913-1914. Orange . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 6.068 Sumac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 6.051 Red Amber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 3.976 Minnesota Amber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 3.785 Freed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 2 .347 In comparing the yields of the five varieties for 1913 and 1914 we find them to run in practically the same order for the varieties with much heavier yields in 1914. The average of the two years shows that Orange produced 69 pounds more cured hay to the acre than did Sumac, but the quality of Sumac was much superior to that of Orange. In the two-year test the Freed has proved a failure as a high yielder and its only redeeming characteristic is its early maturing power. The Min- nesota. and Red Ambers are not so valuable as the Sumac or Orange, and now that Sudan grass is an established crop, it seems that the Amber sorghums may become of less importance. The sorghum varieties given in Table 13 may be compared for their silage-producing rank by xveighing them as cut green in the field. Table 19 shows that the Sumac variety slightly outyielded the other varieties. When this is considered in connection with the preference given Sumac as a variety for rough feed, it will be seen that the one variety may be used for both purposes. TABLE 19. VARIETY TEST or SORGO FOR SILAGE, 1914. - Planted 3 1-2 to 4 1-2 inches apart in 3—foot rows. The yields reported in this table are the weights of the slightly wilted green crop, or material ready for ensilage. Yield Green Material Variety. in Tons to the Acre. Number of Plats Averaged. Sumac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.79 22 Orange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.46 . 6 Minnesota Amber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.46 6 Red Amber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.13 5 Freed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.89 5 Rate of Seeding Test with i90rg0. In 1913 two varieties of sorgo», Sumac and Black Amber, were planted in rows at differently spaced rates. The results were not conclusive, there being no very great dit- ferences in yield obtained. Rates of planting varied as follows, in three-foot rows: ~ 1 to 3 inches apart. 4 to 6 inches apart. 6 to 8 inches apart. 10 to 14 inches apart. 19 to 25 inches apart. PROGRESS REPORT, iSUBsTATroN N0. '7, SPUR, TEXAs. 21 COTTON. 7 T7a¢riety Test. Cotton has been grown here for a comparatively short time. This section of the State is not infested with boll weevil. There has been confusion as to what type of cotton is best suited here. Some farmers report satisfactory results with the large boll varieties, while others declare that the small boll varieties are earlier and more hardy and that these will usually be the most profitable. There is an ap- parent variation here in quality of staple as compared to the same vari- eties of cotton when grownin Central Texas. It, therefore, is evident that variety tests of cotton must be more than merely statements of the amount of cotton produced by each variety. This substation conducted in 1912 a test of 26 varieties of cotton. In 1913 the test included 46 varieties in duplicate plantings. In 1914 five plantings were made of each of 39 varieties. Owing to dry weather, the 1913 test was a practical failure. The yields of the two years’ experiments are shown in Table 20. TABLE 20. COTTON VARIETY TEST, 1912 AND 1914. Averages for two years, 1912 and 1914. Yield in Pounds T. S. No. Variety. Seed Cotton to the Acre. 951, 1 and 485 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cleveland Big Boll . . . . . . 1003.57 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crowder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 989.05 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Burn’s Long Staple . . . . . . 957.50 2 and 498 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bolivia Long Staple . . . . . . 957.25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Hendricks.............. 898.60 118 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Long Staple . . . . . . . . . . . . 871.32 125 and 804 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mebane Triumph . . . . . . . . 867. 15 11 and 942 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lone Star . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 808.50 76, 939 and 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Floradora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 799.70 77 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rowden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 783.35 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Long Staple . . . . . . . . . . . . 703.40 Varieties not mentioned in the foregoing table but which have made good yields in one year are: Allen’s Long Staple. Cook’s Long Staple. Brabham. BroadwelPs Double Jointed. Culpeppefls Improved Big Boll. Cook’s Improved Big Boll. Cook. King. It is evident that the true utility of the different varieties is not fully represented by the yields alone. Notes are being made on size )f boll, storm resistance, ginning turnout, quality of lint, and so forth. Faking all of these factors into consideration, together with the ease )f obtaining planting seed, it is evident that Lone Star and Mebane Friumph are the varieties to be suggested for planting here, pending vne or two more years of this variety test. p‘; y ... a. ffii“; . __ ._ .. __,_,,_____,____ _ w.-o~_d--_- -_-nn-—npq-@_-n-v-.- .....,..,.._-... _. .“».M-..,.......-»L..-. .. - x i 1 l I 5 a i‘ '€ a e 22A a TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. A good many inquiries are received regarding the “Half-a-nd-Half” variety of cotton. This variety was first tested here in 1913 and made no crop, but in this it was in no way different from the other varieties. In 1914, as compared to the two varieties just recommended—that is, Lone Star and Mebane Triumph—the “Half-and-Halff variety gave yields as shown in Table 21. TABLE 21. COMPARISON OF “I-TALF-AND-HALF” AND TWO OTHER VARIETIES OF COTTON, 1914. Yield, Pounds to the Acre. Variety. Per Cent _ Seed Cotton. | Lint Cotton. Turnout of Lint. Mebane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1364.30 ' 536.77 39.52 Lone Star . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1206.50 473.01 a 39.21 “Half-and-Half” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1058.30 402. 68 38.05 It will be seen that in both yield of seed cotton and yield of linti cotton the “Half-and-Half” was a poorer yielder than the two welli; known varieties. ' Mebane Triumph has a good staple, Lone Sta-r an excellent staple and; “Half-and-Half” a medium to poor staple. The comparison is here‘ made with Mebane Triumph and Lone Star because they are good yield-i ers of established rank. Since the comparison is for 1914 only it should ; be noted that of the 39 varieties tested in 1914, 28 varieties yielded moref lint cotton to the acre than did “Half-and-Half.” Cotton Thinning Ebsperiment. Two acres were planted in 1914 in the rate of seeding test with cotton, and each of five rates of thinning?‘ was repeated four times. Som.e difliculty was encountered in securing“ as heavy stands as were desired, and, therefore, the thicker plantings desired had to be thinned more than at first planned. Thus, instead of; plats thinned to 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 inches between single plants, it is necessary to report on plats thinned to '7, 16, 18 to 19, 22 to 25, 31 to 33 and 36 to 3'7 ‘inches apart, respectively, in 36-inch rows. Tablef 22 shows the 1914 data for this thinning experiment. * TABLE 22. THINNING RATE TEST OF COTTON, 1914. Rows 36 inches wide. Number of Plats Yield Pounds Lint Cotton Space, Inches. Averaged. » to t e Acre. _, 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 538.33 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 573.69 18-19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 553.28 22-25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 543.72 31-33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 530.92 36-37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 356.67- . i‘ As will be noted, the yields from all except the very thin plats a t A good. The moisture supply this year was abundant, and it would see Hi7‘, . evident that in a less favorable year the thinner plantings would > 'v-. _-.» row. the plats thinned to more than 25 inches apart in the row yielded com- paratively heavier, later in the season, than the thicker plats; that is, a thick planting forced early fruiting. Early fruiting is very necessary i f here and it would seem that thin planting as a drouth resisting measure PROGRESS REPORT, SUBsrATroN No. '7, SPUR, TEXAS. 23 produced relatively heavier, the conclusion being that probably the best p» practice would be to thin the plants to 16 to 19 inches apart in the An analysis of the details of the experiment, however, shows that may be expected to cut down the early crop, and also that thin plant.- ing gives low yields in good years. For this season, and until the ex- periments nowunder way result in more definite data, it is advised that cotton. in this part of the state be thinned to 12 to 16 inches apart in h.‘ . . rows 3 to 3% feet wide.- ' .3 1 In extremely favorable years good yields of corn are sometimes secured. CORN. In this part of Texas corn is not regarded as a sure or profitable crop. ' i‘ The yea-r 1914 was such a year; only a small plat was devoted to- the i .. w: Q testing of two varieties of Indian corn. ; grown June corn and a dwarf yellow dry-land corn. f compare the yields of corn, even in a favorable year, such as 1914, with l that of the grain sorghums. Table 23 shows the yields of the two vari- eties of corn. The varieties used were a local It is interesting to TABLE 23. VARIETY TEST, 1914. Variety. Height at Maturity. Feet. Yield Bushels to the Acre. June Corn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.5 29.2 Yellow Dry Land . . . . . . . . . . . 3 .33 7.9 June corn produced 29.2 bushels to the acre while one variety of milo produced 73 bushels to the acre. _ In a less favorable year the dif- '1' ference in yield-in favor of the grain sorghum would have been greater. .' As the grain sorghums will do well in years that are unfavorable to corn, it is evident that the introduction of the grain sorghums has_ been of ’ much value to the region. SMALL GRAINS. A, Experiment work with small grains has been carried on in a pre- liminary way. Lack of equipment has hampered this phase of investi- .gation until recently. Fifty-one varieties of wheat, nine varieties of lbarlefr, two varieties of emmer, one variety of rye and two varieties of floats have been tested since 1910. No definite conclusions are yet pos- sible in these experiments. It is apparent, however, that the winters ' 7lare usually too ‘long and dry for small grains, and no expectation is ntertained of ‘extremely large yields. At this time the varieties ad- vised for use are the hard red winter Wheats, including Turkey, Kharkof Crimean. Tennessee winter barley has also shown some promise. f ‘é 24 ' TEXAs AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIoN. COWPEAS. The cowpea is the most reliable annual legume yet tested here. Thi two varieties were tested for seed production in 1914, with the follo results : 1 TABLE 24. VARIETY TEST FOR SEED, 1914. Ten high yielders of 32 varieties. Number 0f Plats Yield in Bu T. S. N0. Variety. in Test. to the Ac i 12.22 58 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Era . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 218 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 12.90 211 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Early Buff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 12.60 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Unknown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 .20 57 . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . . . . . . . . . . Red Ripper . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 10.00 702 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blue Goose . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 9.24 a; 214 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8.48‘ 55 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Iron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7.68 I‘ 87 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blackeye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 7.68.- 325 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brabham . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 7.34 5 The New Era. and the Early Buff Were the most promising. i I. are early in maturing seed, being from 10 to 12 days earlier than}; other varieties. The New Era has a better quality of foliage than; Early Buff and is probably best adapted to this section. i. ‘ \ 7.1 Fig. 3.—V'ariety Test of Cowpeas and Annual Legumes, 1914. WHEN AND HOW TO PLOW. Some of the soils here .are sandy enough to blow or drift ' plowed in the fall and left bare over winter. With such soils a double advantage in using the lister or middle burster in thelf operation of plowing, for the use of this tool will leis-en the gig seedbed preparation and will also aid in preventing drifting. Some so-ils may be so- sandy that no stirring of the soil is ad ‘l after the early fall Work was done. I Pnocnnss Rnronr, SUBSTATION No. 7, SPUR, TEXAS. ~ 25 ‘ii-until. plant growth starts in the spring, but in many cases a soil that f will drift seriously, if farmed flat, may be given fall or Winter seedbed preparation with the lister, if judgment is used. This is not a new f fact. * mer preparation for fall wheat and as a substitute for fall plowing, in ‘ districts in the Central West. So-called “blank listing” is quite extensively practiced in sum- To determine the influence of time and method of soil preparation 0n the crop, experiments were conducted in '_ i‘ the fall and winter of 1913-1914, for the production of the 1914 crop. These experiments included a comparison of land plowed at five dif- ferent times and planted to three different crops, and also they em- braced a comparison of listing in the fall and spring with fall and spring plowing. In considering this entire series of seedbed prepara- tion tests, it is to be remembered that a period of rainfall intervened Consequently the early prepared soil was given an opportunity to receive moisture. In the case of the late-ivorked plats the soil did not receive enough moisture previous to ii planting tgime to compact it. This was especially evident in the case ‘é \ 5: of nine-inch plowing in January. After the crops were growing there was an abundance of rainfall and the earliest prepared plats probably became too firm for best results. This is indicated in the results since cotton, which is generally thought . to be adapted to a compact soil, gave highest yields on the earliest plowed plats, whereas sorghum and cowpeas made better yields on mid- winter plowed land than on land that was plowed in November. Date 0f Plowing as a Preparation of Seectbed Test with Cotton, 1914.. _ In the date of plowing test with cotton the plats were one-tenth of an acre in size and the yields here given are in each case the average of two plats. This cotton was planted on June 6, earlier planting having been unsuccessful. TABLE 25. A COMPARISON OF DATES OF PLOWING AS A PREPARATION OF SEED- BED TEST FOR COTTON, 1914. . Yield in Pounds Date _of Plowing. Lint Cotton to the Acre. November 21, 1913 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 753.84 - January 8, 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 712.84 February 2, 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 678.26 March 7, 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 698.02 593.29 April 2, 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The November 21 plowing produced 21.3 per cent more lint cotton than the April 2 plowing. The experiment brings out the fact that the if late spring plowing gave». very poor results. _ Date of Plowing as a Preparation of Seectbed Test for Sumac Sor- ghum, 1911;. In a date of plowing test conducted with Sumac sorghum for forage the late spring plowing made the smallest yield, which is 12.49 per cent less than February 2 plowing, thus-confirming the pre- _ viously noted experiment with cotton. The facts found in this experi- 26 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. ment are shown in Table 26. The plats were o11e-tenth of an acre. in size and the results give11 are the average for two plats. u TABLE 2e. DATE OF PLOWING AS A PREPARATION or THE SEEDBED TEST FOR SUMAC SORGHUM, 1914. Yield Green Crop Date Plowed. Number Plats Yield 0f Hay in Tons (Silage) in Tons to Averaged. t0 the Acre. the Acre. November 21,1913 . . . . . . . . . .. 2 6.88 19.66 January 8, 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2 6.82 18.62 February 2,1914 . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2 7.10 19 69 March 7,1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2 6.28 17.30 April 2, 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2 6.02 17.25 Sorghum does not require an especially firm seedbed_, and this may account for the slightly larger yields from the February plowing. The earlier fall plowing received good fall and Winter rains and Was quite comp-act by planting time. Date‘-of-.Plowing Exjiertment with Uowipeas. Ten plats plowed at five dates were included in a date of plowing test with cowpeas for a seed crop. February 2 plowing gave best yield by 28.05 per cent. The results are shown in the following table: TABLE 27. DATE OF SEEDBED PREPARATION TEST FOR COWPEAS, 1914. Yield in BusheIs Seed Date Plowed. to the Acre. November 21,1913 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 9.16 January 8, 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 9.24 February 2, 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 10.41 March 7, 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8.00 April 2, 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7.50 Here again, as in the experiments with cotton and Sumac sorghum, the late spring plowing made the smallest crop. It will be noted that the too compact nature of the early plowed land probably was t0 its disadvantage. The three experiments with three crops, covering 30 trials, bring out iquite plainly that the late spring plowing gave poor returns from all crops. This was a Wet season and the moisture stored in the soil of the fall plowed plats from the fall rains was probably not a great factor in production, although it may have aided in the develop- ment of plant foods. a The foregoing experiments show the need of early seedbed preparation. That the method or tool used in the preparation of the la.nd for the crop has an influence on production is well illustrated in the experi- ment results which follow. ~ Method 0ft Preparing Seedbed for Milo, 1911;. In an experiment on the method of preparing the seedbed for milo, 10 plats one-tenth acre in size were winter plowed three, six and nine inches deep and listed, PROGRESS REPORT, SUBsTATIoN No. 7, SPUR, TEXAS. 2'7 and two plats were spring listed. These plats were run in duplicate. The fall plowed and listed plats were planted with a lister planter in the sp-ring, thus receiving some surface tillage. The spring listed plats received no extra work, being listed and planted at one operation. The plats listed in the winter produced the highest yield, which was 73.9 bushels to the acre, as compared "with 4'7 .9 bushels for the spring listed, which is a gain of 35.18 per cent “for winter listing. Plowing nine inches deep gave smaller yields than the three-inch or the six-inch plowing. - The green weights of the crop were determined, these being compar» able to silage crop weights. The green weights show that the plats plowed six inches deep yielded somewhat more than the fall listing, but the other plats yielded a total green crop in the same comparable rank as the grain yield. Table 28 gives the data on this experiment. TABLE 28. METHOD OF PREPARING SEEDBED FOR MILO, 1914. ‘l; Number Plats Yield, Grain in Bu. Yield Green Crop Lbs. Method of Preparation Averaged. to the Acre. to the Acre. Fall listed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 73.9 15900 Fall plowed 3 inches deep. . . . . 2 57.4 14360 Fall plowed 6 inches deep. . . . . 2 55.35 16300 Fall plowed 9 inches deep. . . . . 2 45.05 13520 Spring listed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 47 .9 11840 Method of Preparing Seedbed for Cotton, 1911;. Ten one-tenth-acre plats were used in a method of seedbed preparation experiment with cotton. ~ Fig. 4.—Cotton in Method and Depth of Seedbed Preparation Experi- ment, 1914.‘ The plats were prepared on January 10, 1914, four plats being plowed six inches deep; two plats, three inches; two plats, nine inches, and \ 28. TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. two plats, listed. The plowed plats were planted with a lister planter. Thus these plats received the plowing in addition to the work done on the plats that were only listed. The first planting was destroyed by heavy rains and it was necessary to. repla-nt. As planting was again done in the furrow the work done at the time of the second planting gave additional preparation to all the plats equally. The listed plats. gave the best yields, producing an average of 589.21 pounds of seed cotton to the acre, which was 41.06 pounds more than the plats plowed three inches and which were second in order of yield. There was not suificient rain before planting to firm the seedbed in the plats that were plowed nine inches deep and the yield was very low. TABLE 29. JANUARY PLOWING VERSUS SPRING LISTING AS SEEDBED PREPAR- ATION OF COTTON, 1914. ' All plats lister planted and replanted. Plowed plats were plowed January 10. All plats planted on same date the lister plats were prepared and then replanted later in same manner. Number 0f Plats Yield in Pounds Lint Method of Preparation. Average. Cotton t0 the Acre. Plowed 9 inches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 396.98 Plowed 6 inches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 513.50 Plowed 3 inches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 548.15 Spring listed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 589.21 The figures in Table 29 bring out the fact that whereas late spring plowing makes low yields (see Tables 25, 26 and 27) the spring listing gave very good yields when used late. Large yields were obtained, how- ever, by earlier listing, as is brought out in Tables 28 and 30, which show that the lister or the plow may each be used to advantage for fall seedbed preparation and the yields are consistently much better than those from spring work. TABLE 30. FALL LISTING VERSUS FALL PLOWING FOR COTTON, 1914. Yield, Pounds of Seed Cotton to the Acre. N0. Plats Averaged. Depth of _ Preparation. Listed. Plowed. Gain for Plowilng 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3 731.47 735.47 3.86 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 733.09 734.08 .99 2 . . . . . . . . . . . 9 739.02 742.98 3.96 1O Avarage of all. . 734.57 737.51 _ . 2.94 As listing may be done at less expense than plowing, the slight dif- ference in the yields in Tables 28 and 30 shows a very strong support for listing. When the data presented are studied they bring to light the fact that; deep plowing late in the spring or even in midwinter has lowered the yields, and that late seedbed preparation with the lister has not lowered the yields as much as plowing; but, nevertheless, early or midwinter plowing or listing to medium depths has given good crops. PROGRESS Rinronr, SUBSTATION No. *7, SPUR, Thixpis. 29 FERTILITY CONSERVATION EXPERIMENTS. In the spring of 1914 an experiment was started which has for its urpose thestudying of the effect 0n crop production of continuous ropping, fallow’, crop rotation, manuring with barnyard manure and manuring with green manure, to be studied in connection with the Lproduction of grain sorghum and cotton. This work occupies seven cres and consists of seventy one-tenth-acre experiment plats. _This experiment is destined to be of considerable importance. The history of older agricultural districts points to the necessity of studying the soil as well as the crops. Fig. 5.-Plowing Sorghum Under for Green hlanure. The present season’s results from this experiment concern the- use of barnyard manure, and are presented in Table 31. TABLE 31. EFFECTS OF TWO TONS OF MANURE TO THE ACRE ON FETERITA CROP, 1914. Yield in Gain in Yield Lbs. Gain in Treatment. Number y Bushels to Bushels for Dry Forage Pounds for Plats. the Acre. Manure. to the Acre. Manure. Manured . . . . . . . . 5 i 39.73 14,196 Not manured. . . . 5 l 35.09 1 13,512 l 4.64 s e84 a It uiill be seen that the application of two tons of manure gave a gain to the acre of 4.64 bushels of grain and 684 pounds of forage. On this basis, a ton of manure increased the crop by 2.32 bushels of grain and 342 pounds of forage. At $1.00 per 100 pounds for grain ‘a and $5.00 per ton for forage, the ton of manure was worth $2.15. It costs 30 cents a ton to haul and spread a ton.of manure. Deducting ' with fruits. of manure is $1.85. .This is the gain from manure the first year after, .one 1.60-acre pastures. 3O TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. this from the value here shown,- the net value returned from onetont. it is applied. It is thought that the value_ of the manure is not used up by the first crop grown on the land after its application. ORCHARD FRUITS. No conclusions may yet be arrived at in the horticultural variety test, under way. Table 32 shows the scope of the work that has been starteth TABLE 32. HORTICULTURAL VARIETY TEST. Number Trees Number Trees Ali Kind 0f Fruit. Number of Planted at Close Varieties. 1910 to 1914. Season, 1914. Apples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 195 93 Pears . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 58 31 Peaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 166 54 Cherries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5 r 10 0 Apricots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 20 20 Plums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 14 O Grapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3O 104 86 Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 567 284 This particular piece of work offers great possibilities for this regi since the variable weather renders it difficult for most of the commo used varieties of fruit to escape late spring freezes. . "J In the matter of preparation of the land for tree planting it has evident that “old” land should be used and that it should be in a y. good state of cultivation, or if possible should have been summer f" lowed. Trees planted in newly plowed land may usually be expec to do very indifferently the first season and if it should prove to be dry year very heavy losses will probably result. "i SHEEP BREEDING AND FEEDING. Sheep breeding and feeding investigations were established at station Ne. '7, in September, 1914. At the time of establishing work here, the acreage "was limited and not sufficient to conduct brt ing investigations on an extensive scale, so it accordingly became sary to procure more land. To the end of encouraging sheep produc in this part of the State, C. A. Jones, manager of the Swenson holdip in Dickens county, leased 248 acres of grazing land to the station a period of five years. The use of this land was really donated to state, a minimum charge of $1.00 being made for the lease. The substation erected 1460 rods of fencing, consisting of Ff“ Pittsburgh wire with three barbed wires above and one along the groi’ thus rendering the fence wolf-proof, as nearly as possible. The leased tract was divided into five enclosures of four 20-acre 'I‘wo substantial open~front sheds,“ each 5 if feet, were constructed for the housing of the sheep. Four suitable {a u PRoeREss REPORT, SUBsrArroN No. 7, SPUR, Texas. 31 : convenient sheep yards immediately adjacent to the sheds were pro- piped to each of the four lots in order to provide an ample water supply. In establishing sheep investigationalwo-rk in this part of Texas, the y; first problem to receive attention was that of determining, if possible, which of the mutton breeds of rams when crossed with the fine-wool » range ewes would produce the most profitable lamb raised and fattened under Texas conditions. v y With a view of gaining some valuable information upon this subject, 148 good Rambouillet ewes were purchased during the fall of 1914 from John McCorquodale of Woodson, Texas, and sent to Substation No. '7. These ewes were divided into six lots and bred to registered rams of Fig. _6.——Sheep Sheds and Yards on Substation No. 7. efollowing breeds: Southdown, Shropshire, Hampshire, Lincoln, Ram- puillet, and an unregistered half-blood Lincoln-Karakule. Bulletins reporting the results of this work will be issued from time time. SUMMARY. This report is the first separate published report of this substation, nd covers the period from December 11, 1909, to December 31, 1914:. he substation is a part of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station i stem. . Substation No. '7 was established in December, 1909, at Spur, Dickens iunty. Spur is just east of the high plains in the “red beds” region. ifThis part of Texas has a variable rainfall, which is normally about inches annually, of which three-fourths occurs in the growing period summer crops. f. The date of the first and last killing frosts for a period of four years tel-ages in the spring March 18, and in the fall October 25. x’ d‘ . '. fir. ' vided, 55-inch Pittsburgh wire being used for .this purpose. Water was 32 lhzxxs AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. The investigations were well under way in 1912. Over 600 tests and experiments were carried out in 1914. Experiments are reported With alfalfa, Sudan grass, grain and forage sorghums, cotton, cowpeas, fruit, and with methods of seedbed prepara- tion and the use of manure. Other experiments are being conducted. A field of alfalfa seeded in 1911 has proved a success. No irriga- tion has been used on the alfalfa. This alfalfa yielded at the rate of 3.74 tons of cured hay in 1914. Many localities in the region near this substation are adapted to alfalfa. A Alfalfa seeded in close drills yielded better than when planted in rows and intertilled. ‘Turkestan alfalfa yielded better than five other varieties. Cultural advice relating to alfalfa is given, fall seeding being advised. Both the Fig‘. T.——Sheep Grazing on Frosted Sudan Crass Aftermath. Sheep and the Sudan Grass \Yere Used in the Experiment. Sudan grass has been grown three years 011 this substation. Experi- ments with Sudan grass when regarded in the light of harvesting ex- pense, cost of seed, and so forth, make it seem advisable to plant in 36-inch rows, using 7 to 22 pounds of seed to the acre. Sudan grass is well known now as a hay crop. It is proving excellent as a pasture crop. There is a demand for Sudan grass seed. Corn is not a successful crop here, yielding about one-half to one- third as much as grain sorghums in good seasons, and failing entirely in poor seasons. . Cotton is a comparatively new crop here. This substation is as yet not within the boll. weevil infested district. Cotton variety tests are reported upon for 1912 and 1914. Cleveland Big Boll, Crowder, Burns’ Long Staple, Bolivia Long Staple, Hendricks’ Tiong Staple, Mebane Tri- ...I-/:.*I(L.,.»2ia