AGRICULTURAL & MECHANICAT Comm: 0F TEXAS Lnamaxs-lom TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN NO. 229 MAY, 1918 EXPERIMENTS AT SUBSTATION NO. 3 ANGLETON, TEXAS 1909-1916 B. YOUNGBLOOD, DIRECTOR COLLEGE STATION, BRAZOS COUNTY, TEXAS. AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS \V. B. BizzELL, A M., D. C. L., President TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION . I . - » BOARD OF DIRECTORS . ‘Jon I. G , P id t,B ll’ ge .. . ................................................................ ..T ' 1 L. JIJHARTIIIV/riice Pfregsictegnt, SialinnAntronio ................................................................ ATEIIIHII 335:: E. H. AsTIN, Bryan.. .. . .................................................................................... ..Term expires 1919 J. R. KUBENA, Fayetteville ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Term expires 1921 A. B. DAVIDSON, Cuero.... . .. .. .. .. WILL A. MILLER, JR., AmarIllo.... . fin: DlCKSOlg, Paris ..................... .. . . REIHAN, ar ett......... .................................................................... ..T ' 192E F. M. LAW, Houston ............................................................................................... ..T?3!I.‘II1‘I11 223152: 192E MAIN STATION” COMMITTEE L. J. HART, Chairman WILL A. MILLER, JR. V _GOVERNING BOARD, STATE SUBSTATIONS P. L. Downs, President, Tern le........ . . .................................................................. ..Term expires 1915 CHARLES RooAN, Vice Presi ent, Austin... ............................................................. ..Term expires 192E J. E. BOOG-SCOTT, Coleman .......................................................................................... ..Term expires 192] W. A. JOHNSON, Memphis ........................................................................................... ..Term expires 191E *STATION STAFF . .......Term expires 1921 .. . .. .. .. Term expires 1921 , . . . .. .. .......Term expires 1923 *As of May 1, 191s. 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, B. S., Executive Assistant in Charge Library and Publication EDITH H. PHILLIPS, B. S., Technical As- sistant DIVISION OF VETERINARY SCIENCE **M. FRANcIs, D. V. M., Veterinarian in Charge . _ _ H. SCHMIDT, D. V. S., Veterinarian D. H. BENNETT, V. M. D., Assistant Vet- erinarian DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY G. S. FRAPs, Ph. D., Chemist in Charge; State Chemist _ T. B. LEITH, B. A., Assistant Chemist ScoTT PowELL, B. S._, Assistant Chemist E. SEIKE, B. A., Assistant Chemist DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE_ H. NEss, M. S., Horticulturist_in Charge W. S. HoTcrIRIss, Horticulturist DIVISION OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY J. C. BURNs, B. S.,_Animal Husbandman, Feeding Investigations _ J. M. JoNEs, A. M., Animal Husbandman, Breeding Investigations P. V. EWING, M. S., AnimaiHusbandman, in Charge Swine Investigations _ **L. B. BURK, B. S., Collaborating Animal Husbandman. Swine Investigations DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY _ _ F. B. PADDOCK, M. S., Entomologist in Charge; State Entomologist _ A H. J. REINRARD, B. S., Assistant Ento- moloaist W. E. JAcKsoN, M. S. Assistant Ent0m0l0gist_ County Apiary Inspectors: R. C. Abernathy, Ladonia; William Atch- ley, Mathis; J. W. E. Basham, Barstow; T. W. Burleson, Waxahachie; W. C. Col- lier, Goliad; E. W. Cothran, Roxton; G. F. Davidson, PleasantomJohn Donegan, Seguin; S. T. Graham,Milano; J. B. King, Batesville; N. G. LeGear, Waco: R. A. Little, Pearsall: S. H. Stephens, Uvalde; M. B. Tally, Victoria; R. E. Watson, Heidenheimer; F. C. Belt, Ysleta; R. A. Nestor. Buffalo; J. E. Bush, San An- tonio; H. A. Jones, Oakville; T. A. Bow- don, Palestine; E. R. Jones, Beeville. DIVISION OF AGRONOMY _ _ A. B. CoNNER, B. S., Agronomist in Charge A. H. LEIDIGH, B. S., Agronomist ***H. H. JoEs0N, B. S., Agronomist L. WERMELSKIRCHEN, B. S., Agronomist DIVISION OF PLANT PATHOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY J. J. TAUBENHAUS, Ph. D., Plant Pathol- ogist and Physiologist in Charge DIVISION OF POULTRY HUSBANDRY . N. HARVEY, B. S., Poultryman in Charge DIVISION OF FORESTRY: E. SIECKE, M. F., Forester in Charge, State Forester DIVISION 0F PLANT BREEDING E. P. HUMBERT, Ph. D., Plant Breeder in Charge DIVISION OF DAIRYING W. A. DOUBT, Dairyman ****SOIL SURVEY: T. H. BENTON, Soil Surveyor J. F. STROUI), Soil Surveyor DIVISION OF FEED CONTROL SERVICE F. D. FULLER, M. S., Chief JAMEs SULLIVAN, Executive Secretary J. H. RooERs, Inspector \V. H. WOOD, Inspector S. D. PEARcE, Inspector W. M. WICKES, Inspector W. F. CHRISTIAN, Inspector J. W. SNELL, Inspector J. J. KELLY, Inspector SUBSTATION N0. 1: Beeville, Bee County I. E. CowART, M. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 2: Troup, Smith County W. S. HoTcrIKIss, Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 3: Angleton, Brazoria County N. E. WINTERS, M. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 4: Beaumont, JetTerson County H. H. LAUDE, _S., Superintendent G. PURvIs, Scientific Assistant SUBSTATION NO. 5: Temple, Be_ll County D. T. KILLOUGII, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 6: Denton, Denton County . H. McDowELL, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 7: Spur, Dickens County R. E. DICKSON, B. S., Superintendent E. M. SMELTzER, Scientific Assistant SUBSTATION NO. 8: Lubbo_ck, Lubbock County R. E. KARPER. B. S., Superintendent D. L‘. J0NEs, Scientific Assistant SUBSTATION NO. 9: Pecos, Reeves County J. W. JAcKsoN, B. S., Superintendent SUBSTATION NO. 10 {Feeding and Breeding Substation): College Station, Brazos County E. R. SPENEE. B. S., Animal Husbandman, in Charge of Farm . C. WARE, Scientific Assistant SUBSTATION NO. l1: Nacogdoches, Nacog- doches 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. l4, Sonora, Sutton Count! E. M. PETERs, B. S., Superintendent CLERICAL ASSISTANTS DAISY LEE, Registration Clerk C. L. DURsT, Mailing Clerk R. C. FRANKS, Stenographer W. L. HEARN. "Stenographer MAE BELLE EvANs. Stenographer IRENE PEVERLEY, Copyisl ***On leave. RUTH CAMPBELL, Stenographer MARGARET SHELDON, Stenographer RUTR LoRD. Stenographer EMMA CAMPBELL, Stenographer H. L. FRAzIER, Stenographer **In cooperation with A. and M. College of Texas. ****In cooperation with United States Department of Agriculture. Professor S. M. Tracy Who has done a great deal for the live stock industry of the Gulf Coast country by the introduction of new legumes and grasses CONTENTS. Page. Frontispiec-e—Prot. S. M. Tracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '7 Climatological data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '7 Experiment data . . . . . . . r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 10 Cotton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 a Environmental test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1O Effect of rotation on yield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Corn........» . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..11. Variety test . r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ._ . . . . . . 11 Seeding rate test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 11 Effect of an intertilled legume on yield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Effect of time of seeding a legume on yield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Distribution test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Cor11 and velvet beans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 15V Effect of rotation on yield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Oats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 16 Variety test . . . . . . . . . .- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1'6 Seeding rate test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 17 Date of seeding test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 18 Rotation vs. continuous cropping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 18 Rye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . j . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Barley . . . . . . . .1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Wheat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19 Cowpeas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19 Variety test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 . . 1.9 Seeding rate test for grain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Seeding rate test in cultivated rows for hay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Seeding rate test in close drills for hay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2O Comparison of close drills and cultivated _roWs for hay . . . . . . . . 21 Time of seeding test in corn . . . . . . . . . . . .2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 21 Cowpeas in rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Variety test of velvet beans in corn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .~ . . . . . . . 22 Soy-beans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 23 Mung beans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ._ . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Kulthi and moth beans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Mexican pinto or “frijole” beans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Field peas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 23 CONTENTS. Page. Guar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peanuts .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Varietytest . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Seeding rate test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Clovers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 25 Bur clover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Alsike clover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 (lrimson clover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Sweet clover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 l-lairy Yetch- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2'7 lied clover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Alfalfa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2'7 Japanese sugiar ciane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Sweet sorghum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 3O Sudan grass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Rhodes grass .‘ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Bliseellaneous forage crops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Dasheens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 . . . . 32 Garden vegetables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .' . . . .3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Radish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Lettuce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Beans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 33 English peas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 35 Cabbage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Q . . . . . . 35 Turnips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..35 Mustard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 35 {ape .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 35 Beets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 35 Tomatoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 35 “vatermelons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 35 Cantaloupes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tree fruits . . . .~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Vine fruits . . . . . . . . . . . . . .’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... 36 Ornamentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 BULLETIN N0. 229 i MAY, 1918 PROGRESS REPORT, SUBSTATION NO. 3, ANGLETON, TEXAS 1909-1916 N. EJWINTERs, M. 8., SUPERINTENDENT y INTRODUCTION Substation Yo. 3 of the Texas AgriculturaltExpieriment Station was established in 1909. The farm is 3.6 miles northeast of the town of Angleton 0n the St. L., B. & M. Railroad, Brazoria county, latitude 29° 9’ K, longitude 95° 24’ W. The elevation is twenty-five feet above sea level. The farm consists of 157’ acres, of which fifty-three acres are in cul- tivation, one hundred acres are in pasture and meadow, and four acres are waste land in and around Brushy Bayou. During the years 1910, 1.911, and 1912, work was devoted largely to general development, erection of buildings, and preparation for experi- ment ivork. The first crops were produced in 1912, and from 1913 to 1916, inclusive, much work was done in determining the agricultural problems. peculiar to this section of Texas. A. L. Harris, A. B. Young, andP. D. Perkins successively had direct supervision over the work from 1910 to 1912;, inclusive. Since Decem- b-er of 1912 the present superintendent has been in charge. The greatest problem has been to secure eflicient drainage ‘during seasons ofl heavy rainfall. Brushy Bavlvou, which is the lowestnatural drain for thisimmediate section, was without an adequate outlet, and in times of heavy rainfall overflowed the farm for hours and days at a time. By “community effort this condition has been remedied. At an approximate cost of $30,000, a huge (lrainage ditch, twelve miles in length, with a thirty-foot base, emptying directly into tide water, was completed in the spring of 1917. This big ditch goes through one corner of the substation farm and in general follows the course of old Brushy. CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA _ The following tables give the precipitation record by months, sky con- dition, maximum and minimum temperature for each month, the mean average temperature of. each month, and the dates. ‘of last killing frost in spring ‘and first killing frost in fall. The weather instruments were installed in June, 1913, and weather records began July 1, 1913. TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPFRIMENT STATION Figure 1. New drainage ditch which crosses one corner of the substationvfarm. EXPERIMENTS AT SUBSTATION No. 3, ANGLETON, TEXAS. Table 1.—Rainfall by months. a 9 Average Months. 1913 1914 1915 1916 1914-15-16 January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 0.49 2.96 1.62 1.69 February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3.16 4.03 0.13 2.44 Marc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2.93 3.53 0.42 2.29 April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 13.46 2.25 1 .64 5.78 May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . .. 7.89 2.66 6.59 5.71 June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 0.26 0.00 5.37 1.87 July . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.57 1.73 3.95 5.66 3.78 August . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8.60 8.49 13.87 5.43 9.26 September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.71 4.34 6.29 3.55 4.73 October . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 17.77 3.61 2.49 1.08 2.39‘ November . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4.58 8.02 2.04 1 .68 3.91 December . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II‘ 5.17 4.19 4.74 2.13 3.69 Totals . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58.57 48.81 35.30 47.56 Table 2.—Condition of the sky by years. No. rainy No. cloudy No. clear No. partly Year days. days. days. cloudy days. 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 101 66 198 1915 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 98 111 168 1916 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 65 94 207 Average . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97.6 88.0 90.3 191 Table 3.—Maximum, minimum and mean temperatures for each month, 1914-1916. Degrees Fahrenheit. Month. 1914 1915 1916 Average. Max Min Mean Max Min Mean Max Min Mean Max. Min. Mean January . . . . . . . . .. 8Q 27 56.1 74 25 52.0 79 21 60.4 77.7 24.3 56.2 February . . . . . . . .. 80 25 53.2 74 32 56.5 81 25 57.9 78.3 27.3 55.9 March . . . . . . . . . .. 78 28 56.8 85 26 53.0 88 34 65.3 83.7 27.0 58.4 April . . . . . . . . . . .. 87 36 67.8 84 3O 66.8 88 32 66.1 86.3 32.7 66.9 May . . . . . . . . . . . .. 93 56 74.4 88 55 74.6 91 51 74.8 90.9 53.0 74.6 June . . . . . . . . . . . .. 97 69 80.7 97 64 80.6 94 64 80.4 96.0 65.7 80.6 July . . . . . . . . . . . .. 98 68 82.2 98 61 80.7 94 70 81.7 96.6 66.3 81.5 August . . . . . . . . . .. 97 69 80.8 96 62 80.4 94 64 80.9 95.6 65.0 80.7 September . . . . . . .. 92 52 77.2 92 59 78.7 92 44 76.7 92.0 51.6 77.5 October . . . . . . . . .. 90 40 69.0 89 45 70.5 90 35 69.3 89.6 40.0 69.6 November . . . . . . .. 80 32 61.2 87 31 63.7 84 23 59.5 83.6 28.6 61.4 December . . . . . . .. 77 25 51.8 77 28 58.4 83 18 57.4 79.0 23.6 55.9 Table 4.—Dates of first and last killing frosts. Last frost First frost Year. in spring. in fall. 1913 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Dec 26 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Mar. 8 Nov 17 1915 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. April 3 Nov 15 1916 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. April 9 Nov 10 Average . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mar. 27 Nov 24 The climate here is characterized by a very even temperature both in summer and Winter. The maximum temperature in summer is not so 10 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION high as in the northern part of the State, and the minimum in winter is not much below freezing. The rainfall is usually so distributed throughout the growing season that high crop production is favored where good drainage is secured. EXPERIMENT DATA f This report deals with results secured fr0m\1913 to 1916, inclusive, Due to the flood in l\i[ay a11d the gulf storm in August, not many re- sults of any value were secured in 1915; hence, most of the data given in this bulletin are based on result-s procured during 1913, 1914 and 1916. A great deal of the work under way of s-uch nature that several seasons will be required before reliable conclusions can be drawn, but the carefully conducted field tests beginning in 1913 give us informa- tion of much value to farmers of this section of the Gulf Coastal Plain. Com-on Environmental Test.—Seed of Mebane cotton (T. S. No. 804), orig- inally from a single source, is being produced at various places in the State and each yea.r is exchanged and planted in adjacent plats for the purpose of determining the influence of rainfall and other climatic con- - ditions upon that particular yrarietv. The seed of this variety was pro- duced in various places in the State in 1915. The cooperative tests were first made in 1916. The following ta.ble gives the results which, for the one year, are in favor of the seed produced at Liflbock and Spur under dry-farming conditions. Table 5.—Environmental test of Mebane cotton, 1916. Yield pounds lint per acre. Yield pounds Source of seed. seed per acre. Lubbock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303 . 55 514 65 pur. . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302.30 512 5O Beeville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289.80 491.35 Angleton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278.65 473.20 Temple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255 . 15 432 . 65 Efiept of Rotation on Y ieZd.—Cotton in a four-year rotation is being compared with cotton grown continuously year after year on the same land. This test was started in 1913 on what seemed to be uniform soil, a black Victoria clay. The rotation consists of corn followed by oats, with a green manure crop of cowpeas plowed under, followed by cotton, which in turn was followed by cowpeas for seed. EXPERIMENTS AT SUBSTATION No. 3, ANGLETON, TEXAS. 11 Table 6.—Cotton rotation vs. straight cropping. Yield pounds lint Yield pounds seed per acre. per acre. Year. Straight Straight. Rotation. cropping. Rotation. cropping. l l I 1913 . . . . . . . . . . . . Yields not determined due to overflows. 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 l 15s l 215 l 313 I 1915 . . . . . . . . . . . . . l Yields not determined due to storm and flood 1916 . . . . . . . . . . . . 278.65 214.22 I 473.2 ‘ 363.18 l Cotton yielded 30 per cent. more per acre the fourth year in the rota- tion than it did under straight crop-ping. Conn Variety Tesi.—The following table gives the name, source of seed, numb-er of years tested, and the average yield of those varieties of corn which have been tested two or more years and which show an average i )-‘1€l(l of twenty bushels or more per acre. Table 7.—Highest yielding corn varieties. ' - No. Average yield Name. Source of seed. years bushels per * tested. per acre. y I June Corn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Port Arthur Rice and Irrigation Co. l in 1915, self-fertilized seed from i Naco doches in 1916 . . . . . . . . . . . . .' 2 26.61 Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beeville, exas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 25.10 Fentress Strawberry . . . . . . . . Fentress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 25.06 Hast1ng’s Prolific . . . . . . . . . . . Hastings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ 3 24.57 Virginia White Dent . . . . . . . . T. W. Wood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .‘ 3 23.29 Mexican June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lubbock in 1913, Hastings in 1914. . . . 2 21.89 Surcropper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ferguson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 21.83 Munson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Ferguson in 1913, T. S. & F. Co. in 1914 2 21.81 Fer. Yellow Dent . . . . . . . . . . . Ferguson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 21.64 Chisholm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ferguson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 21.49 Imp. Southern Snowflake. . . . T. W. Wood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 21.28 Mosby Prolific . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reuter in 1913, 1916, Miss. Exp. Sta. in 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 21.24 Yellow Creole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reuter in 1913, 1914 self-fertilized seed from Nacogdoches in 1916.. . . 3 20.02 Among the best yielders given, those varieties which resist the work of weevils best in this section are June corn, Yellow Creole, and Thomas. The 'l‘uxp~an 's a good weevil-resisting type, but has not been among the best yield rs on the substation farm. 0 p Varieties which have given high yields, but which have been tested only one year, are as follows: Singleton Strawberry, Brazos White, Bloody Butcher, Laguna and Chappelle Prolific. Seeding Rate Test.—In the seeding rate test of corn as conducted, all the corn rows are three feet apart, and the seeding rates are deter- mined by different distances of the hills in the rows. The following 12 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION table gives a summary of the yields of corn from the different seeding rates for the years 19.13 to 1916: i Table 8.—Summary of seeding rate test 0f corn. _ _ Distance Yield bushels shelled corn per acre. . Seeding rate, hlllS per acre. hills in rows. 1913 I 1914 I 1916 1 Average. 2420 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 72 inches 11.52 8.13 13.94 11.20 3630 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .- . . . . . . . . . 48 inches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.66 . . . . . . . . . . 4840 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 inched 18.38 11.65 24.33 18. 12 7260 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 inches 22.50 14.21 30.45 22.39 9680 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - 18 inches 20.71 12.71 39.73 24.38 Table 9.—-Efl'ect of the seeding rate on the percentage of stalks with two or more ears, 1916. Seeding rate, Per cent. stalks with hills per acre. two or more ears. 2420 12.7 3630 11 . 6 4840 7.7 7260 2.6 9680 1 . 3 In 1916 heavy rains fell just as the corn was filling, and we secured more corn from the thickest seeding rate than from any other, but in both 1913 and 1914 the heaviest yield was obtained fro-m the plats in which the hills were two feet apart in the three-foot rows, or 7,260 hills per acre. The average for the three years shows the highest yield from the thicket seeding rate, but it is probable that the safest seeding rate for a. farmer to use is 7,260 hills per acre. The percentage of stalks with two or more ears appears to increase as the seeding rate becomes thinner. Efiect of an Intertilled Legvtme on Yield.—In this test one series of plats is left with corn alone, and in another series cowpeas are planted between the rows of corn. In 1913 the peas were planted when the corn was in full tassel; in 1914, when the corn was one foot high; and in 1916, three plantings of cowpeas were made when the corn was three feet high, five feet high, and again when in full tassel. The corn on all plats was planted at corresponding dates each year and on land which had previously received the same preparation. Sim- ilar cultivation was given all plats. Table 10.—Effect of an intertilled legume on the yield of corn. . Yield bushels corn per acre. Year. Corn in six-foot rows Corn in six-foot rows with cowpeas planted without cowpeas. between rows. . 1913 . . . . . . . . .. 20.32 17 10 1914 . . . . . . . . .. 14.24 12 45 1916 . . . . . . . . .. 13.00 12 64 Average. . 15.85 14.06 EXPERIMENTS AT SUBSTATION N0. 3, ANGLETON, TEXAS. 13 This shows an average for all plats for the three years of 12.7’ per cent. more corn when planted with cowpeas. . .E'fiact of Time of Seeding a. Legumel on YieZd.-—In this test the corn’ was planted six feet apart, and cowpeas were planted between the rows at different times during the life of the corn. The yields of corn and peas were secured from the different plats for comparison. Table 11.—Effect of time of seeding a legume between wide rows of corn on the yields of corn. Average for 1913 and 1916. Height of corn when Yield bushels shelled peas were planted. corn per acre. 1 foot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 16.01 3 feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.36 5 feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19.09 Full tassel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.91 In both 1913 and 1916, the highest yields of corn were obtained where the cowpeas were planted when the corn was five feet high. Early planting of cowpeas seems to cause a. reduction in the yield of corn. The averages for the two years give p11 per cent. more corn where cow- peas were planted when the corn was five feet high, than the average for all other plats in which cowpeas were planted. Table 12.—Yields of both corn and peas obtained from planting cowpeas at different times during the life of the corn, 1916. _ Average yield Height of corn when cowpeas bushels per acre. were planted. C0rn.. I Cowpeas. 3 feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 16 36 3.69 5 feet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19.09 2.02 Full tassel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.91 2.62 These results indicate that as the yields of corn increase" the yields of cowpeas decrease and vice versa. A As the cowpeas increase in yield 1.67 bushels, the corn decreases in yield 2.72- bushels per acre. - Distribution Test.—In this test each of the distributions carries the same number of hills per acre. In the six-foot rows, the stalks are eighteen inches apart in the row, and in the three foot rows the stalks are thirty-six inches apart in the row. Table 13.—Distribution of hills and its effect on yields of corn. Yield bushels shelled corn per acre. Arrangement of hills. 1913 | 1914 | 1916 l Average. Rows3ft. apart,hills3ft. in row............ 17.74 11.97 ' 29.38 19.69 Rows 6 ft. apart, hills 18 inches 1n row. . . .. 16.43 11 .09 20.48 16.00 Rows in 3 ft. ‘pairs, nine feet apart and hlllS 18 inches m row . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.04 - 10.86 * *Not carried in 1916. 14 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT S'l‘ATION In the season of 1913 7.9 per cent. more corn was obtained from the three-foot rows than the six-foot rows; in 1914, 7.9 per cent. more corn; and in 1916, 4J5 per cent. more corn. The averages for the three years gives 23 per cent. more corn from the three-foot rows than from the six-foot rows. It has been noticeable that some farmers produce more corn on wide rows than o,n narrow or regular rows. The reason for this seems to i be that those farmers leave their corn too thick, especially in dry sea- sons, for the maximum yields, and when they plant in wide rows they have, as a result, a thinner seeding rate, which gives a higher yield per acre. If the corn in the regular width rows is thinned as it should be the results indicate that a higher yield of corn will be obtained than from the wide rows. The wide rows of corn permit the planting of a legume between the corn rows, and if an upright growing legume is used, such as the Chinese Figure 2. Corn and peanuts in alternate rows. Red or New Era. cowpea. or Biloxi soybean it will not interfere xvith the continued cultivation of the corn. . In this connection, please notice pages 12 and 13 regarding the effect of planting a legume on the yield of corn and the effect on the yield of corn of planting a legume at different times during the life of the corn. The average for three years gives 23 per cent. more corn from reg-e ular planting than from wide rows where the seeding rate is the same. Eleven per cent. more corn is obtained where cowpeas are planted late in the life of the corn than where planted early in the life of the corn; hence, wide rows, to make room for early plantings of cowpeas, are no advantage. The early planted cowpeas gave 1.6”?’ bushels shelled peas more per i acre; but there was a corresponding decrease in corn yield. of 2.73 bush- els shelled corn per acre. _ As the seasons here are long and usually favorable to the growth of EXPERIMENTS AT SUBSTATION No. 3, ANGLETON, TEXAS. 15 ,te cowpea.s (at least for vines), it seems that it will pay here to plant m in the regular width of rows, thinned for maximum yields, and 5'- down the land to cowpeas at the last cultivation of the corn. Tl1is iethod will give, in the first place, the highest yield of corn possible, and second, it will usually result in a heavy growth ofcowpeas in the A ll for use in pasturing or plowing under. A Command Velvet Beans.——In 1916 five varieties of velvet beans were planted in corn to determine the relative effect of the varieties 0n the ‘jyield of corn. All plats were given the same previous preparation for iplanting. .- All varieties of beans were plantedon the same date, March 1:15. The same variety of corn was planted on all plats and on the same Idate, April 11, after the beans were growing nicely. All tests were car- iried in duplicate. The corn was harvested August 30.- iTable 14.-—Efi'ect of early aind late maturing varieties of velvet beans on theiyield of corn. Total yield I . > _ _ _ l Yield shelled ‘Variety name 0f vel- Yield lbs. per Beans 1n (pod l pounds shelled corn, bushels _ vet bean. plat. I Nov. 1 . Q beans per acre. per acre. Florida Velvet. . . . . 3.88 1_19.55 1234.29 26.63 ; Med. Early Florida. 9. 12 44.25 533.67 26.04 Yokohama . . . . . . . . 36.52 16.76 532.73 i 24.89 L. Selection 1846C. . . . 16.54 21.25 377.89 23.96 '0sceola . . . . . . . . . . . 1.03 75.96 I 766.84 l 18.58 j The average shows that the higher yields of corn were obtained where fthe beans were late in maturing, and the yields of corn decreased with ithe early maturingwarieties of beans. The late Florida velvets, only pabout 3 per cent. of the pods of which were ripe September 7, a week iafter the corn was harvested, gave the highest yield of beans, and it was tin those same plats that the highest yields of corn were obtained. _, lffiect 0f Rotation on YieZd.—From 1913 to 1916, inclusive, one field “Elias grown corn continuously without any other crops; one field has igrown corn in a four-year rotation with oats, cotton and cowpeas—the "oats being "followed the same year by a. catch crop of cowpeas for plow- ing under; and another field has grown corn in alternation with a Tjlegume, either cowpcas or peanuts. These fields have received the same preparation and cultivation each year; the same varieties have been fused; the same seedingpratcs have prevailed; and the treatment, other than the rotation, has been identical. 'l.‘he results are given in the fol- ilowing table: Table 15.—Rotation vs. continuous cropping of corn. Yield bushels shelled corn per acre. \ l "Cropping method. 1913 | 1914 i 1916 | Average. "Four-year rotation of corn—oats—cotton~— t ‘ _ cowpeas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.94 18.66 29.38 25.33 Alternation of corn and legume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.38 11 .65 24.33 18. 12 ' 25.67 8.72 17.91 17.43 Continuous cropping . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Table 16.—'-Gain o_f four-year rotation over continuous cropping of corn, 1913 to 1916. Gain over continuous cropping. Yew; Bushels corn per acre. Per cent. 1913 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.27 8.84 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 9.94 114.00 ‘ 1916 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 11.47 64.04 Average . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.89 62.29 Table 17.—Advantage of alternation of corn with legumes over continuous cropping of corn, 1913 to 1916. Gain over continuous cropping. Year. Bushels corn per acre. Per cent. 1913 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. —7.29 —28.4 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.93 33.6 1916 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6.42 35.85 Average . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 . 44 5 . 15 Table 18.—Increase and decrease in yields of corn under dif- ferent cropping systems, 1913 to 1916. Increase or decrease in yield of corn 1n four years. Crdpping system. Bushels. I Per cent. Four-year rotation . . . . . . . . . . 1 .44 5. 15 Two-year rotation . . . . . . . . . . 5 .95 32 .37 ' Continuous cropping . . . . . . . . —7.66 ——29.84 The comparison of these rotations with the continuous cropping of corn is very instructive. We find that corn under continuous cropping has decreased in yield 29.84 per cent. or 7.65 bushels per acre in four vears. . l” Corn in a fotir-year rotation with oats, cotton and cowpeas, has in- creased. in yield 5.15 per cent. in four years. _ Corn in alternation with legumes has increased in yield 32.37 per cent. in four years. This great difference in yield between the rotated and non-rotated ‘fields is probably due in great part to the indirect benefits of rotation more‘ than to the addition of plant food due to legume. The rotated fields are in better physical condition due to the addition of organic matter. Their water-holding capacity has been increased; they are bet- ter aerated; and, due to the resulting increased bacteria] activity in the soil a.nd the increase in available plant foods, there is an increase in crop production. ' OATS Variety Test.-—Oats were a failure in 1913' and 1916. They showed fair growth and development in the years 1914 and 1915. EXPERIMENTS AT SUBSTATION N0. 3, ANGVLETON, TEXAS. Table 19.——Variety test of oats,’ 1914 and 1915. 1'?‘ variety_ Source of Seed Yields pounds cured hay per acre . 1914 1915 Average. Hundred-Bushel . . . . . . . . . Hastings Seed Co., Atlanta, Ga. 682 1955 1319 Fulghum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hastings Seed Co., Atlanta, Ga. . . . . . . . . . . 1243 . . . . . . . . . .. Texas Red Rust Proof. . . . E. B. Cannan & Son, Angleton, Texas. . . ._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 725 1014 870 Texas Red Rust Proof. . . . Substation N0. 6, Denton, Texas . . . . . . . . . . 880 . . . . . . . . . . Appler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hastings Seed C0., Atlanta, Ga. 836 825 831 Burt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hastings Seed Co., Atlanta, Ga. . . . . . . . . . . 663 . . . . . . . . . . Winter Turf . . . . . . . . . . . .. Reichardt & Schulte, Houston, Texas . . . . . ._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ._ . . . . . . failure . . . . . . . . . . Virginia Gray Winter. . . . T. W. Wood, Richmond, Va . . . failure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (winter turf) Frazier’s Red Rust Proof. Substation No. 5, Temple, Texas 678 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bancroft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T. W. Wood & Son, Richmond, Va . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 770 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rust Proof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T. W. Wood & Son, Richmond, Va . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 968 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Due to the fact that we have had no way of threshing our oats to secure the yield of grain, we have harvested them in the dough stage for hay. Oats in seeding rate test. Figure 3. Of the three varieties that were carried both years of 1914 and 1915, the Hundred-Bushel from H. G. Hastings Seed Companygave the highest yield of cured hay per acre. i In 191.5 the Hundred-Bushel was first both in yield a.nd qualityof hay, Fulghuni was second and Texas Red Rust Proof, the seed of which was sold by an Angleton firm, was third. ~ y The winter turf varieties of oats have been a complete failure here every year, due to rust. » ~ y It is well to note here that in the spring of- 1916 all varieties of oats were killed by dry Weather, rust, and chinch bugs. Seeding Rate Test.—-In 1914 oats were iplanted at five different seed- ing rates, and in 1915 at four different seeding rates. The seeding was 18 TEXAS AG-RICULTURAI. EXPERIMENT STATIoN done November 10, 1913, for the 1914 crop, and October 21, 1914, for the 1915 crop. Table 20.—Two-year summary 0f seeding rate test of oats. _ Yield pounds cured hay per acre. Seeding rate pecks per acre. 1914 1915 Average. 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 921 2,035 1,478 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1,059 2,758 1,909‘ 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1,235 2,516 1,876 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 930 2,541 1 ,736 The seeding rate of eight pecks per acre was best in 1914, but six pecks per acre took the lead in 1915. The average for the two years places the six-peck seeding rate first with eight pecks a close second. Date 0f Seeding Test.—In 1916 a date of seeding test was started with oats. Oats Were seeded at the rate of eight pecks per acre Octo- ber 9, November 2,. December 1, January 7, and February 3. Grain didn’t form in any; of these oats, and the straw Was ruined by rust. The November seeding made the best showing, with October and December coming second and third in the order named. In 1913 no oats were seeded until January, and they were a com- plete failure. Indications are that oats should be-seeded here about November 1, un- less they are being planted for early fall and winter pasture. For good fall pasture they may be planted in September and October. Rotation vs. Continuous Uroppingr-The oats grown in the tour-year rotation of cornoats-cotton-cowpeas have been compared each year since 1913 with oats grown year after year on the same land. The crop in 1913 was a failure. due to late planting and other unfavorable condi- tions. It was again a failure in 1916, due to dry weather and chinch bugs. Table 21.—-Rotation vs. continuous cropping of oats. Height of growth in inches. Yield pounds, cured hay per acre Year. Continuous Continuous _ cropping. Rotation. cropping. Rotation. 1913... . .' . . . . . . .. 10 u 10 failure failure 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . .. 20 _ 30 528 1 ,235 1915 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 44 Flood water stood 2,516 over them High enough to hold grain above flood water. As with corn and cotton, the results with oats are showing very plainly the effect of a good cropping system and also the effect of a poor one. A EXPERIMENTS AT SUBSTATION No. 3, ANGLETON, TEXAS. 19 RYE The Abruzzi variety of rye has proved to be the best for this part of the State. It has never failed to make fairly good grain. Rust does not affect rye here as it does oats. ‘ Rye is very good for fall and winter pasture and will usually make a good grain crop. Sow about November 1 for grain, or a month earlier for the best fall and winter pasture. - Use from three to tour peeks seed per acre. BARLEY Barley ha.s never made much grain here, nor very much pasture. Both oats and rye are much better. - WHEAT Wheat has been a failure every year. COWPEAS Vafleiy/ Tesf.—-Twenty' selections of cowpeas are being tested on the substation farm for both hay and grain yields. The following tables show in order the highest yielding varieties for grain and hay that have been tested two or more years. - Table 22.—Variety test 0f cowpeas for grain. Number Average yield Name. years bushels grain tested. per acre. New Era . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 15.93 Brabham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 15.77 ' Blue Goose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 14.53 Whippoorwill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 11.49 Iron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 1 .29 Groit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 10.81 Unknown or Wonderful . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 10.44 Red Ripper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 9. 18 Chinese Red . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 9.11 Early Buff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3.95 Table 2B.—Variety test of cowpeas for hay. Average for those tested two or more years. i Number Average yield Name. years pounds cured tested; hay per acre. Iron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2,571 Groit. . . .~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2 2,270 Whippoorwill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 ,99_7 Unknown or Wonderful . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 ,822 New Era . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1 ,794 . Blackeye . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 ,474 Red Ripper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 ,21.0 Chinese Red . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 , 178 In 1913 and 191.4 all varieties gave heavy yields of both hay and grain. In 1915 only three varieties, Chinese Red, New Era and Early Buff, matured enough to be harvested for hay and grain between the 20 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION flood in May and the storm in August. In 1916 none of the varieties v was harvested for hay, due to unfavorable weather conditions at harvest time, and yields of grain were very low. Seeding Rate Test for Grain.-In 1915 and 1916 five difierent seed— ing rates of cowpeas were tested for yields of grain. In 1915 the Chinese Red was used and in 1916 the Clay. Plantings were made in three-foot rows. » Table 24.—Seeding rate test of cowpeas in three~foot rows for grain. _ ' Yield bushels shelled peas Seeding rate, pounds per acre. seed per acre. 1915 1916 I Average. ' I 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.05 6.74 5.90 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 .00 6. 94 6.97 l2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7.86 5.45 6.65 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 7.37 3.24 5.31 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.11 2 .89 5 .510 Although the yields in 1915 of the Chinese Red increased with the seeding rate, in 1916, with the Clay variety, the nine-pound and six- pound seeding rates were first and second, respectively. The average- for the two years gives the nine-pound seeding rate first and the twelve- pound seeding rate second. _ _ From these results, it seems that we are safe in concluding that from nine to twelve pounds seed per acre in three-foot rows will give the best results. The Chinese Red variety seems better suited to thick seeding than the Clay. "Seeding Rate Test in Czzltlewzlted Rows for Hay.——Cowpeas were planted at different seeding rates in each of the four years from 1913 to 1916, inclusive, in three-foot rows for hay. In 1914 and 1916 the hay could not be harvested, due to wet weather when the peas were cut. Results were secured, howeyrergwith a. good quality of hay in 1913 and‘ 1915. Table 25.—Seeding rate test of cowpeas for hay in cultivated rows. Yield pounds cured hay Seeding rate pounds per acre. per acre. ' 1913 ‘ 1915 I Average. 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2,640 3,685 3,163 - 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,125 . . . . . . . . . . 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3,300 4,345 3,823 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,730 . . . . . . . . . . 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3 685 4,560 4 123 Both years’ work, as Well as the average for the two years, show an increase in yield of hay with the thicker seeding rates. Seeding Rate Test in Close Drills for Hay.—In 1915 four different seeding rates were tested with cowpeas in close drills for hay. A small EXPERIMENTS AT SUBSTATION N0. 3, ANGLETON, TEXAS. r21 Ii drill was used in doing the planting. The same test was carried »f1916 ; but the hay could not be harvested, due to unfavorable weather dltlOIIS. Table 26.—Seeding rate test of cowpeas in close drills for hay. Yield pounds cured '3 Seeding rate, pecks per acre. hay per acre. l 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,390 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,270 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,490 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,940 iAccording to these results, it will ‘pay to use from four to five pecks lseed per acre when sowing in close drills or broadcast for hay. NOTE-In 1913 a seeding rate test was made, using two, four and pecks per acre, but due to an error ‘in harvesting,‘the different seed- ‘ rates were not kept separate. It was notieable that the two heavier "ings were much better than the two pecks per acre. The average ld was 3088 pounds cured hay per acre. omparison of Close Drills and Cultivated Rows for H ay.—The aver- " is of all seeding rates used in three-foot rows and those used in close "llsi are compared for the purpose of determining the best method of ding cowpeas for hay. - Table 27.—Cultivated rows vs. close drills of cowpeas for hay. Yield pounds cured hay per acre. Average of all seeding rates. l Method of seeding. 1913 | 1915 Average. 1 "\>‘ Three-foot cultivated rows.. . . . 3,208 4,289 3,749 Close drills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,088 6,022 4,555 The averages show an advantage in yield for the close drills. The of seed should, however, be considered before deciding which ethod to use, as it requires from six to eight times as much seed for e close drill methods as for the three-foot rows. . ~It is also found that the ground may be kept free from grass and eds by growing the cowpeas in cultivated rows. This is an item rth consideration in the Gulf Coast section, where grasses grow s0- pidly. ‘Time 0f l9eedi1zg Test in Corn.—ln 1916' cowpeas were seeded at "ur different times during the life of corn. The first seeding did not irminate, and was replanted later, leaving only three times of seeding. Table 28.—Time of seeding in corn. _ _ Height No. Yield bushels shelled Time of seeding. of corn. plats. peasfperiacre. :1 May 24 . . . . . . . . . .. s feet 2 3.70 ‘l May 31 . . . . . . . . . . . 5 feet 4 2.02 » June l2 . . . . . . . . . full tassel 2.63 I 22 'l'nxAs AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION These results indicate an increase in yield of grain with the earlie plantings of cowpeas in corn. In this connection, pages 12 and 13, concerning the yields of botl corn and peas when cowpeas are planted at different time during th life of the corn should be studied. Uozzipeas in R0tati0-rz.—-The yields of cowpeas in a four-year rotatioi are being compared with cowpeas grown continuously on the same land The rotation used runs as follows: l First year, corn. Second year, oats, followed by cowpeas for plowing under. Third year, cotton. Fourth year, cowpeas for seed. Table 29.——Rotation vs. continuous cropping 0f cowpeas. Yield bushels shelled Yield pounds cured peas per acre. hay per acre. Year. _ Continuous _ Continuous Rotation. cropping. Rotation. cropping. 1913 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 18.18 17.50 2,035 1,913 1914 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 15.93 16.20 1,958 2,100 1915 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Could not lac harvested d'ue to storm and flood. 191s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 0.55 0.05 Not cut it» hay. No definite conclusions can be drawn from the preceding data. re- garding the effect of rotation versus continuous cropping of cowpeas. Cowpeas all produced very little grain during 1916. - VARIETY TEST OF VELVET BEANS m Conn In this test the beans were planted March 15 and the corn April 1.1 after the beans had a good start. The corn was planted merely as a trellis for the beans, Shoe Peg corn being used throughout all plats. Data was recorded, however, regarding the yields of corn from the dif- ferent plats. in order to determine the comparative effects of diiferent varieties of beans on the yields of corn. Table 30.——Variety test of velvet beans in corn with yields of corna _ same field, 1916. Yield pounds Yield bushels l Time needed Variety. shelled seed corn per for growth and per acre. acre. l development. Florida Velvet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 714 26.6 210 days Osceola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 421 18.58 225 days Medium Early Florida Velvet . . . . . . . 364 26.04 175 days Yokohoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 24.89 150 days Selection without a name (01846C) . . 150 23.96 160 days N 0TE.—-See page 15, “Corn and Velvet Beans.” Florida Velvet is the heaviest yielding variety, but the slowest in maturing. The Yokohama matures the earliest. EXPERIMENTS AT SUBSTATION No. 3, ANGLETON,’ TEXAS. 23 A full crop of the earliest varieties can be matured here by planting in May or by June 1, but the late Florida Velvet requires about a seven months’ growing period. ' The seeds of these velvet beans were furnished by Professor S. M. Tracy, of the United States Department of Agriculture, both in 1915 and 1916. ~ In 1915 no results except a heavy groyvth of vines were secured from the test with velvet beans, due to flood and storm. It apparently is necessary on the substation farm to fence out the rabbits while the ‘velvet beans are small. a SOYBEANS In the spring of 1916 the Biloxi soybean from Professor S. M. Tracy, Biloxi, Mississippi, was planted for the purpose of raising seed. It grew to an average height of more than four feet and produced from one to twenty-five bushels seed per acre. This variety of soybean is the best yet grown on the farm. It requires ~ about six months for growth and development from planting to ripe seed. Soybeans must be protected from rabbitshere. A blister beetle, locally known as the Spanish fly, is the worst enemy of this crop in this section. It eats all the leaves and kills the plants in twenty-four hours’ time. MUNG BEANS Ten selections of Mung beans were tested on this farm in 1916. All’ were planted April 2'7. One of these selections was a complete failure, not maturing any seed before frost. The other nine selections varied in yield from one-third bushel up to 10.5 bushels p-er acre. The mung bean is valuable here as a. summer pasture for poultry. KULTHI AND MOTH BEANS The Kulthi bean (Phaseolzzs radiatus) and the Moth bean (Phaseo- Zus aconitifolus) were grown on the substation two years; but neither produced seed before being killed by frost. They both make large growths of forage, which cures similarly to cowpeas for hay. MExIcAN PINTO on “Famous” BEAN _ This variety of bean was tested on the substation farm two years but was a failure both years. Fnzu) PEAS ' Two varieties of field peas were tested two years but were failures both seasons. GUAR Guar grew on the farm two years. It makes a good growth where protected from rabbits. None of the live stock, however, will eat the 24 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION forage. N odules were found on the roots, and it is probably a good soil improver. I Psmrrrs Variety .Test.——Four varieties of peanuts were planted April 21, 1915. In 1916 the planting was done April 13. In 1915 they-were dug September 2, and in 1916', September 6. It was 135 days from planting to harvest in 1915 and 146 days in 1916, giving an average growing period for the two years of 141 days. The Small Spanish variety was p-lanted at the rate of two kernels to each hill, the hills be- ing eighteen inches apart in the rows in 1915, and in 1916, twelve inches apart. The other three varieties were planted at the rate of two kernels to each hill, the hills being eighteen inches apart in both years. Three- root rows were used with all varieties. ' All peanuts are being grown in two-year alternation with corn and cowpeas, in which the corn is seeded down to cowpeas at the last cul- tivation and the cowpeas are plowed under in the fall for peanuts the next spring. - Table 31.—Variety test of peanuts, yield pounds cured nuts per acre. Yield pounds cured nuts per acre. Variety. 1915 f 1916 I Average. Small Spanish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.434 6.043 3.741 Virginia Runner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 930 4.012 2.471 Improved Valencia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.939 2.994 2.466 Tennessee Reds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1,426 2.605 2.015 Table 32.——Variety test of peanuts for cured hay without nuts. Yield pounds cured hay per acre. Variety. 1915 1916 I Average. Small Spanish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.043 7.404 i 5.226 Virginia Runner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.220 5.743 5.934 Tennessee Reds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.962 6.735 6.374 Improved Valencia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,816 7.800 6.303 Table i33.—i—-Variety test of peanuts. Per cenl. pods in forage cured six days. Per cent. pods in cured forage y weig t. Variety. 1915 I 1916 Average. Small Spanish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 441/4 38.13 Virginia Runner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 36 24. 5 Tennessee Reds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 22 . 23.5 Improved Valencia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 20% 18.63 Table 34.-—-Variety test of peanuts, bushels cured huts per acre. Yield bushels per acre. Lbs. nuts Variety. per bushel. 1915 I 1916 I Average. _ Small Spanish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47.8 201.6 124.7 30 Virginia Runner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l . . . . 42.2 182.36 112.28 22 Tennessee Reds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57.02 104.2 80.61 25 Improved Valencia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77.55 119.6 98.57 25 EXPERIMENTS AT SUBSTATION No. 3, ANGLETON, TEXAS. 25 The two years’ work seems to indicate that the Spanish is the most profitable variety for planting, considering yield of nuts, and that Vir- ginia Runner is second. The Tennessee Reds have averaged the high- est yield of cured forage. _ In order to determine the amount of nuts that drop off the vines in digging, all the loose nuts of each variety were picked up and Weighed. The following results were obtained: Table 35.-—Per cent. of shattering in differen varieties of peanuts. Per cent. nuts dropping Variety. ofi vines in digging. Spanish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Tennessee Red . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Improved Valencia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3O This indicates that it would pay to use hogs for cleaning up a peanut field after harvesting is done, especially if the three last named varie- ties are grown. Seeding Rate Te.s't.-—The Spanish was used for the seeding rate test. All rows were three feet apart, and the difierent seeding rates were. determined by the distances apart of the hills in the rows. One nut with two kernels was dropped in each hill. All peanuts were planted in the hull without soaking. Planting was done April 22, 1915, and April 15, 1916. Harvesting was done September 3, 191-5, and Sep- tember 6, 1916. Thirty pounds of Spanish peanuts make a bushel. Table 36.-—Seeding rate test of peanuts. Seeding rate Yield bushels cured nuts Yield pounds cured forage inches apart _ per acre. with nuts per acre. hills in row. 1915 I 1916 I Average. 1915 I 1916 I Average. _ l is? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 174. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 11,495 . . . . . . . . .. 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 80.96 153.46 117 21 , 7,590 10,093 8,841 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 159.’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 10,472] . . . . . . . . .. 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 74.5 150.7 112 2 6,985 6,948 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 66.6 115.93 91 27 6,243 6,933 6,693 36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36.06 95.23 65 64 3,383 6,262 4,823 I The results for both years show an increase in yield as the seeding "rate becomes thicker. CLOVERS Japan clover planted February 15 ripened its seed Sepember 15. It attained a height of four inches. This clover makes a good summer pasture for the Gulf Coast coun- try. It grows and does well in Bermuda grass. From year to year it spreads in the native grass. It does not require inoculation here. 26 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Bur Clover. (Spotted leaf bur.) Table 37.—General information. Tiine of V‘ Length of Time of Ready for maximum Date of grazing Average seeding. grazing. growth. ripening season. height. l Sept. 15. . . . Jan. 1 . . . . . . . . Jan. 1_5 to May 1 . . . . . . . . 3% months 8 inches April 15. The spotted leaf bur clover is the best for this part of Texas. It is excellent pasture from the middle of the Winter until grass has made a good growth in the spring. It is a great winter soil improver. It re- seeds itself. It should be used by every farmer and stock raiser in cul- tivated fields as a winter growing clover. The burs carry their own inoculation. From forty to fifty pounds seed in bur are planted per acre. Alsike CZover Table 38.——General information. Seeding Height Yield lbs. Time of rate lbs. of Da te in Date cut cured hay Drouth seeding. per acre. growth. full bloom. for hay. per acre. resistance. I 1 Oct. 21mm] 2O 1O inches.... Mayl . . . . ..{May 22H...’ 1,155 not good Alsike clover does not seem to be a good legume for this part of the State. It is a perennial here green the year round. It makes a good growth the first fall and winter. Bermuda crowds it out during the summer, however, and the drouth in mid-summer kills out a great deal of it. Crimson Clover Table 39.-—Inoculation test with crimson clover. Yield pounds cured _ _ Height of hay per acre. Date of Height of growth Date cut planting. < growth with _ without for hay. 1 "a Without inoculation. inoculation. _ ilnoculated. inoculation. l Nov. 18 . . . . . . . .118 inches . . . . . . 7 inches . . . . . . .]May 14 . . . . . . . 1,364 j 495 Crimson clover usually does well here if inoculated or planted in soil already inoculated and well drained. It is a great soil improver, winter cover crop and pasture crop, as well as a good “hay crop. About twenty pounds seed per acre should be sown. Sweet Clover 9 Two varieties of sweet clovcrs have been tested on the station farm four years, the yellow blooming annual (M elilotus oflicianalis) and the white blooming biennial (lllelilotrzs alba). ‘> EXPERIMENTS AT SUBSTATION No. 3, ANGLETON, TEXAS. 2'7 The annual has succeeded every year, making pasture during winter onths and a. crop of hay in the spring. It then reseeds itself and mes up from the seed the following fall. - The biennial has never lived through one year here yet. After mak- n winter pasture and one hay crop in spring, it has died during July i August without making seed. It should live over two winters and ‘I summer, and make seed the second summer. Table 40.-—Inoculation test with sweet clover. _ l Yield pounds cured _ Height 0f growth. hay per a(;1-e_ Variety. Date of _ planting. ‘ _ Without Without _ Inoculated. inoculation. Inoculated. i inoculation. ellpw Blooming. .. . Nov. 18 . . . . . . . 30 inches 24 inches 1 ,815 1 ,65() ' - te Blooming. . . . Nov. 18 . . . . . . . 22 inches 2O inches 1 , 155 Y 1 ,O34 o No nodules were found on the roots Where inoculation was not used. V; _ his test indicates some advantage in favor of the inoculation, although 0t so marked as with crimson clover. .1 Bur clover can be used to inoculate the soil for sweet clover. I About twenty pounds seed per acre should be used in planting. lanting should be done in the fall of the year. g Hairy‘ Vetch October 15 is the most satisfactory date for planting hairy vetch, . orty pounds of seed per acre being a. good rate‘ of planting. Hairy jetch is usually available for grazing throughout January, February, arch and April. It makes seed about May 15. l finches high at a maximum growth with vines four to five feet long. , Rabbits are the principal enemy of this crop in this locality, small fields of an acre or less requiring protection from the pests. Several Yalieties of vetch grow wild here on the substation farm. Red Clover This clover has been a failure every year. Planted in the fall, it akes a good growth during winter and dies during July and August. ALFALFA i’ Alfalfa has been a failure every year. It lives and dies similarly to d clover. - JAPANESE SUGAR CANE ‘ Japanese sugar cane is grown on the substation at three different rates in rows six feet apart, single line of stalks in row, double ‘e of stalks in rows and three lines of stalks in row. At these differ- m seeding rates it has taken about one, two and three tons of seed canes n" acre, respectively. Hairy vetch has a very vinev growth. It stands about eighteen 28 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Table 4l.—-Seeding rate test. Yield pounds green forage per acre. pfl Seeding rate. 1915 I 1916 I Average. Single line stalks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27,500 63,162 45,331 Double line stalks . . . . . . . . . . . . 43,266 69,905 56,586 Three line stalks . . . . . . . . . . . . . p 42,900 87,813 65,357 The averages for the two years show an increase in yield as the seed- ing rate became thicker. ' This field has grown bur clover every winter since 1913-1914, which helps to account for the enormous yields of‘ 1916. Table 42.——Depth of plowing test. Yield pounds green forage per acre. Depth of plowing. 1915 l 1916 Average. 5 inches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43,266 65,633 54,449 12 inches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 50, 160 70,150 60,155 Date of plowing, March 29, 1915. Date of planting, April 5, 1916. Figure 4. Japanese sugar cane in seeding rate test. The previous table shows a 16 per cent. increase in yield the first year due to deep plowing, and the second year, without replowing, an increase of '2’ per cent. over the shallow plowing. This gives an aver- age of over 11 per cent. more forage from the deep plowing. All our tests with Japanese sugar cane indicate that it is one of the best forage crop-s for the Gulf Coast section. Horses, cattle and hogs are all very fond of the canes. By feeding it to work stock during win-* ter months along with some legume hay, practically no grain is needed - when work is light. It is valuable for cutting and feeding green dur- EXPERIMENTS AT SUBSTATION No. 3, ANGLETON, TEXAS. 29 ing August, September and October. It. maybe pastured during the fall and winter months. Harvesting should usually be done during October, before the canes are frozen in the fall. It may be fed either as dry forage or as silage. Tf it is to be used as dry forage during the winter months, it should be stored in a double rick with the butts lap- ping inside and the leaves exposed on the sides of the rick. The leaves "will cure and the stems will remain juicy all Winter. To keep- the seed canes in the best condition, they should be mat- layed with the butts on the ground, so that they Will remain moist. Planting should be done in the fall of the year, preferably in No- vember. Stubbles need no winter protection in this section of the State. If the fields grow bur clover during the winter, a much higher yield of cane is obtained. ' . Cane should be planted deep——four or five inches. Soil should be thrown away from the rows with a plow early in the spring and gradually ‘worked back to rows b-y cultivation during the summer. This method helps to keep the growth deep in the soil year after year. Table 43.——Three years’ growth from one planting. Yield pounds green forage per acre. 1914 l 1915 l 1916 I Average. l 28 , 456 44 , 283 27 , 500 Date of planting. 36,918 38,016 April 11, 1914. . . .. April 5, 1915. . .. There was a decrease in yield the second year. The third year gave a higher yield than did the first year. As is shown by the check plat planted April 5, 1915, the low yield of 1915 was due to an unfavorable season. The season of 1916 was a favorable year for this crop. Table 44.—Date of harvesting test. Height Yield green forage Date of harvesting. _ of growth. per acre in pounds. Sept.10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 feet 23,200 Dec. 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 feet 51,030 Dec. 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 feet 39,820 The canes cut September 10 were not nearly so sweet as the ones cut A later. The temperature dropped to twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit on De- cember" 15, which injured the cane and froze the buds of that standing. ‘A previous freeze of twenty-eight degrees on December 4 injured neither the cane nor the buds. _30 CTEXAs AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION SWEET SORGHUM Table 45.——Seeding rate test for forage. Yield pounds cured forage per acre. Seeding rate. Average 0f two Rank. _ years. Plants 1 inch apart in three-foot rows 16,026 4 Plants 3 inehesi n three-foot rows. . . . 12 , 685 5 Plants 6 inches in three-foot rows. . . . 12,173 6 Plants 9inches in three-foot rows. . . . 11,055 7 Close drill 2 peeks per acre . . . . . . . . 16,740 2 Close drill 4 peeks per acre . . . . . . . . . 16,428 3 Close drill 8 peeks per acre... . . . . . . 16,742 1 l M? t There was not much difference in yield between the thickest planting in cultivated rows and the close drills. The difference in yield between the different seeding rates in close drills was very small. SUDAN GRASS Sudan grass has been planted every _vear since 1913 in three-foot rows, eighteen-inch rows and in close drills for hay production. From Figure 5. Mowing Sudan grass in clo-se drills. two to three cuttings each yfear have been saved for hay from each method of seeding. Plantings were made in April. Table 46.-—Sudan grass. Method of seeding test for hay. Average yield of cured Method of seeding. hay, pounds per acre for season. Three-foot rows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4,092 Eighteen—inch rows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,582 Close drills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ 4,779 EXPERIMENTS AT SUBSTATION N0. 3, ANGLETON, TEXAS. 31 Table 47.—Sudan grass as a catch crop after oats. w I _ I _ Pounds cured hay Date of planting. I _Date 0f Seeding. per acre. i June l5 . . . . . . . . . . . . Hyfictoberti . . . . . . . 1,125 One cutting of hay was lost in middle of August, due to a gulf storm. Table 48.——Comparison of main cro8 and catch crop in three- foot rows, cutting 0f ctober 6th. Yield pounds 0f cured forage per acre. Main crop. i Catch crop. 2.131 1,125 Sudan grass is not a good hay crop for this section of Texas. It is difficult to cure in the damp climate which prevails. As it reaches maturity, too, it is usually afifected by the sorghum leaf blight, which damages it for hay. By cutting the grass young during very dry periods, however, a good quality of hay Inay be obtained. Sudan makes’ excellent summer grazing for all kinds of live stock. It makes very rapid and heavy growth here. It may be used to advantage as a sum- mer p-asture crop following oats. It is valuable here as a summer poul- try pasture if mowed frequently. It usually does not produce seed on. account of an insect called the sorghum midge. Rnomzs GRASS Table 49.—Results with Rhodes grass. Dates of cutting I Yield pounds cured Date of for hay. hay per acre planting seed. 1915 1916 1915 1916 March18. 1915.... July 12. .. July 13. .. 5,775 4,939 §ept.11... Aug. 23... Nov. 5... Oct. 11... I Rhodes grass is the best. perennial hay grass yet tried here. It makes about three cuttings of hay in a season. The land on which it is grow- ing 011 the substation farm has never been improved b-y rotation, green manuring or fertilizing, and it is not especially good soil. Rhodes grass is difficult to- propagate from the see-d. It is more easily propagated by cuttings. It has killed out Bermuda grass here on the station. It spreads like Bermuda grass, but it is easily killed b-y plowing. This crop is also valuable for pasture. - The seed should be sown about April 1 on a well prepare-d seed bed just before or after a light rain and harro-wed in lightly. Use from seven to ten pounds seed per acre. Mow two or three times without raking up while Rhodes grass is young, to keep down Weeds a.nd other grasses. Rhodes grass is a perennial if the temperature does not drop lower than eighteen degrees Fahrenheit. 32 TEXAS AGRIGULTUILAL EXPERIMENT STATION MISCELLANEOUS FORAGE CRoPs In cooperation with the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduc- tion, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. (l, many forage crops of legumes and grasses are being tested on this farm. Professor S. M. Tracy, an agronomist in this department, with head- quarters at Biloxi, Mississippi, visits the farm once or twice each year and advises in the Work with these crops. The Wonderful success here of some of these forage crops is especially due to the kind cooperation and advice of Professor Tracy, and this section of Texas owes him a debt of gratitude for these crops, which mean so much to the live stock industry of the Gulf Coast country. Work with several varieties of velvet beans and our success with Rhodes grass is due to this cooper- ation. ’ i Figure 6. Perennial grasses and legumes for forage. Cairib grass, Para grass (Andropogmz annulatus) and Giant Bermuda (Cg/notion (Zactylon) are some of the best perennial forage grasses that are great successes here for pasture. Many farmers living near enough to the substation farm are getting starts of these best forage grasses for propagation on their own farms. All of the grasses just referred to can be propagated by mean of cuttings. Many new forage crops are being tested here every year, kudzu, a perennial legume, being one of the most promising. DASHEENS In the spring of 1914 a few dasheen tubers were received from the United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. They were propagated that year, and during 1915 and 1916 tests were con- ducted Withthem. EXPERIMENTS AT SUBSTATION No. 3, ANGLETON, TEXAS. 33 Table 50.——Method and seeding rate test. _ Yield pounds Method and rate of seeding. tubers Bushels per acre. p per acre. Whole tubers and corms planted two feet apart in three-foot rows 11,473 229.46 Cut tubers planted 1 foot apart in three-foot rows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,570 191 .4 Cut tubers planted 2 feet apart in three-foot rows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,498 149 .96 Cut tubers planted 3 feet apart in three-foot rows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,490 129.8 Average . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,758 ‘ 175.15 W This is a heavy yielding food crop for this part of the State during seasons of heavy rainfall. The dasheen takes the place of the White Figure 7. Dasheens—the new substitute for Irish potatoes. potato in every particular as a food. [Fhelflavor is improved by par- boiling ten or fifteen minutes previous to baking, frying, and so forth. The dasheen resembles the Irish potato in taste, and has, in addition, a chestnut flavor. GARDEN VEGETABLES Radish.—The Scarlet Button and- Half-Long-Deep Scarlet were the best varieties of radish in the spring garden and the Long White Vienna and Chartier Were the best for fall garden. . Lettucefi-Considererl from the standpoint of yields, rapidity of de- velopment, and duration of palatability in the home garden, the Im- proved Hansen and the Big Boston varieties have taken the lead. Grand Rapids, Prizehead, Allheart and Iceberg seem to follow in the order named. Beans.—The New Bountiful. Hopkin’s Earliest Bed Valentine, and Iiivingston’s Bound Six Weeks, all green podded varieties, Were the best. 34 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Figure 8. Weeping mulberry-qm ornamental. EXPERIMENTS AT SUBSTATION No. 3, ANsLEToN, TEXAS. 35 élext in order arenKeeney’s Rustless’ Golden Wax, Improved Golden Wax, d“ WardwelPs Kidney Wax, all. being wax prodded beans. The bush *3 as have been almost complete failures every year. English _Peas.—The leading five varieties of English peas are as fol- Eows in the order named: Y Extra Earlv Surprise, from Hastings. Improved ‘Telephone, from Hastings. Nott’s Excelsior, from Hastings. Prosperity or Gradus, from Hastings. Ca.rteir’s Telephone, from Livingston. A E flabbager-A good combination for a. home garden is the Early Jersey gakefield and the Premium Late Elat Dutch, one early and the other \ urni;ns.—The leading turnip for yield seems to be the Purple Top v___ p Leaf. The rutabaga is good for winter greens. 1istard.~The Chinese mustard seems to be the best for winter ns. ' ape.—D\varf ESSEX rape was found to be very fine for winter greens. eeiistfThe Crimson Globe beet has taken the lead in tests so far iomlatbesj_\rfhe Earliana has been our heaviest yielding tomato. For pity the Stone and the Dwarf Champion are the best to date. v aiermblons.—Kleclcley Sweet, Alabama Sweet and McIvers, in the- ?- named, are the watermelon varieties which appear to- be best for" 91 consumption. For keeping qualities, the Tom. Watson and the- ’ sta Rattlesnake a.re the most satisfactory. a.ntal0cipes.—From the standpoint of yield alone, the Extra Early , ykensack and the Texas Cannon Ball take the lead. Considering ."_’,}= quality and yield, Eden Gem, Netted Rock King and Rocky- ’ in the order named, are preferable. I the Gulf Coast section it is possible to have a good garden for feiise on an average of about ten months in the year and it will pay i ‘to considerable expense on a small area in draining, fertilizing, “ting, and so forth, in order to maintain a. good home garden. TREE Fnurrs J fruit trees on the substation ha.ve gone through flood, storm and th, and, leaving citrus fruits out of consideration, seventy per cent. of planted are living. All citrus fruit trees, including kumquats, killed by freezes. Commercial orcharding here with citrus fruit 36 TEXAS AG~RIOUIJTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION trees i.s a hazardous business. A farmer, nevertheless, may profitably have a few citrus trees where he can protect them for raising his own . fruit. Figs sometimes freeze to the ground here. If kept pruned to bushes, as they should be, they will come out again without much loss except some fruit the first summer after freezing. ' VINE FRUITS All kinds of dewberries do Well here, both wild and cultivated. The grapes on the substation are doing Well. Winter growing legumes for cover crops, thorough cultivation. and frequent spraying with a fungicide are necessary here for the best success. ORNAM ENTALS Twenty-four lots of ornamentals, comprising 148 plants, have been planted in the arboretum. Ninety-six of these are living. Figure 9. Kudzu vine on trellis. SUMMARY The section represented by Substation No. 3 is characterized by an equable temperature both summer and winter. Climatic conditions dur- ing the growing season usually favor high crop~ production. Good drainage is the first requisite for successful crop production. Community effort made possible the completion of a huge ditch which relieves a large farming area from overflows of Brushy Bayou. Cotton seed produced and kept in the dry pa.rts of the State has proved superior to that produced in humid sections. Cotton yielded thirty per cent. more in a rotation with corn, oats and cowpeas than it did under continuous cropping, the fourth year after starting the test. Cf a large number of corn varieties tested, Thomas, Fentress Straw- berrv, Hastings Prolific, Virginia White Dent, Mexican June, Sur- cropper, Munson, Ferguson Yellow Dent. Chisholm, Improved Southern Snowflake, l\llosby_’s Prolific and Yellow Creole averaged the best in the EXPERIMENTS AT SUBSTATION N0. 3, ANGLETON, TEXAS. '37 pier named. The average of results shows about eleven per cent. more Ti where cowpeas are planted late in the life of the corn than where y y are planted early in the life of the corn. Where corn and cowpeas grown together, the yieldsof co-rn have decreased as the yields of iwpeas increased and vice versa. ‘When corn and velvet beans are _ wn together, higher yields of corn are obtained with the late matur- i beans. "(The Hundred-Bushel oat from Hastings, the Fulghum, and the Texas ' --~ Rust Proof are the leading varieties in the order named. {Abruzzi rye has never failed to make grain here. All other small in crops have made complete failures. iThe New Era, Brabham and Blue Goose varieties of cowpeas have _n the highest yielders for grain. Iron, G-roit and Whippoorwill have gde the most hay. Cowpeas, in rotation, have _so far shown no par- _ lar advantage ‘over those under continuous" cropping. {The Yokohama is the earliest variety of velvet bean, requiring about y! days for development. The latest maturing variety, the Osceola, vjires about 225 days growing period. , ,;y'l‘he Biloxi variety of soybean does well here when protected from ‘redations of rabbits and blister beetles. - Mung beans are found to be especially valuable as a summer poultry sture crop. . A-‘Kulthi and Moth beans both produce good hay but do not mature seed l ore frost. iThe Mexican Pinto or “Frijole” ha.s been a failure here. The Spanish variety of peanuts has given the highest average yield i. cured nuts per acre. The Tennessee Reds have produced the most l. age without nuts. An average of results shows an increase in yield nuts as the seeding rate becomes thicker. ilapan clover, bur clover and crimson clover are doing well here der certain conditions. ' ' Alfalfa and red clover are failures up to the present time. [Hairy vetch does well when protected from rabbits. Japanese stigar cane in the seeding rate yielded as high as_87,813 unds green forage per acre. A temperature of 28 degrees Fahrenheit not injure the cane standing in the field; it was severely damaged q a drop to 25 degrees. Deep plowing produced sixteen per cent. more 1 than shallow plowing the first year, and seven per cent. more cane second year without replowing or replanting. It does not pay to rvest Japanese sugar cane early, as it stores most of its sugar after flching maximum growth in October. It pays to let bur clbver grow ‘ring the winter on Japanese sugar cane la11d. ‘Sweet sorghum showed the highest yield of forageufrom the thickest A ting in cultivated rows. There was little difference in yield between ' different seeding rates in close drills. ‘Sudan grass may be used successfully as a catch pasture crops after . Eighteen-inch. rows have given an average higher yield of forage 38 Tnxas AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION than either the three-foot-rows or the close drills. Sudan grass is valu- able here for summer pasture; Rhodes grass is a good perennial pasture and hay crop. It endures a temperature of 18 degrees Fahrenheit without serious loss. Work is being done with garden vegetables, especially in methods of producing a good family garden and testing out varieties of vegetables for home consumption.