%-. A352-120-15,000-L TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS W. B. BIZZELL, President BULLETIN NO. 258 DECEMBER, I919 REPORT OF EXPERIMENTS, SUB- ‘STATION NO. 4, BEAUMQNT, TEXAS B. YOUNGBLOOD, Drmzcron common STATION, BRAZOS COUNTY, TEXAS ..i..-. a STATION STAFFT A DMINISTRATION B. YovNcBLoon. M. S., Director A. B. CoNNER. B. S., Vice Director J. M. JoNEs. A. M.. Assistant Director CHAS. A. FELRER, Chief Clerk A. S. WARE. Secretary _ _ ______i-_-—, Executive Assistant CHARLES Sosoux, Technical Assistant VETERINARY SCIENCE ‘M. FRANCIS. D. V. M" Chit!’ H. SCHMIDT, D. V. S., Veterinarian D. H. BENNETT, V. M. D., Veterinarian CHEMISTRY G. S. FRAPs. Ph. D., Chief; State Chemist S. E. ASBURY, M. S., Assistant Chemist S. LOMANITL, B. S.. Assistant Chemist _ F. B. SCHILLING, B. S., Assistant Chemist J. B. SMITH, B. S., Assistant Chemist WALDO WALKER, Assistant Chemist HORTICULTURE _ H. NEss, M. S., Chief W. S. Ho-rci-ixiss. Horticulturist ANIMAL INDUSTRY J. M. JoNEs, A. M., Chief; Sheep and Goat Investigations. I]. C. BURNS, B. S.. Animal Husbandman in Charge of Beef Cattle Investigations (on leave) J. B. McNULTv, B. S.. Dairyman R. M. SHERWOOD, B. S., Poultryman O. E. McCONNELL, B. S., AnimalHusbandman in Charge of Swine Investigations _ G. R. WARREN, B. S., Assistant Animal Hus- ENTOMOLOGY . M. C. TANQUARY, Ph. D., Chief; State Ento- mologist _ H. J. EINHARD, B. S., Entomologist —————-- ——--——, Assistant Entomologist AGRONOMY A. B. CONNER, B. S., Chief A. H. Lemma, B. S. Agronomist E. W. GEYER. B. ., Agronomist H. H. LAUDE. M. S., Agronomist PLANT PATHOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY J. J. TAUBENHAUS, Ph. D., Chief FEED CONTROL SERVICE F. D. FULLER, M. S.. Chief J AMES SULLIVAN. Executive Secretary FORESTRY E. O. SIECKE, B. S., Chief; State Forester PLANT BREEDING E. P. HUMBERT, Ph. D., Chief FARM AND RANCH ECONOMICS H. M. ELIOT, M. S., Chief SOIL SURVEY **W. T. CARTER, JR., B. S.. Chief T. M. BUSHNELL. B. S.. Soil Surveyor W. B. FRANCIS. B. S.. Soil Surveyor — , Soil Surveyor bandman _ —-—- B. G. BREWER, B. S., Assistant Animal Hus- bandman SUBSTATIONS No. 1. Beeville, Bee County No. 8. Lubbock, Lubbock County I. E. COWART, M. S., Superintendent No. Troup, Smith County W. S. HOTCHKISS, Superintendent No. 3. Angleton, Brazoria County E. B. REYNOLDS, M. S., Superintendent No. 4. Beaumont, Jefferson County A. H. PRiNcE, B. S., Superintendent No. 5. Temple, Bell County D. Ts KILLOUGH, B. S., Superintendent No. 6. Denton, Denton County C. H. McDowELL, B. S., Superintendent No. 7. Spur, Dickens County _ B. E. DICKSON, B. S., Superintendent TAs of December 30, 1919. R. E. KARPER, B. S., Superintendent D. L. JoNEs, Scientific Assistant No. 9. Pecos, Reeves County J. W. JACKSON B. S., Superintendent No. 10. (Feeding and Breeding Substation) College Station, Brazos County i . , Superintendent E. CAMERON, Scientific Assistant No. ll. Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County G. T. McNEss, Superintendent **No. 12. Chillicothe, Hardeman County A. B. CRON, B. S.. Superintendent V. E. HAFNER, B. S., Scientific Assistant No. l4. Sonora, Sutton-Edwards Countlei E. M. PETERs, B. S., Superintendent {In cooperation .wi_th School of Agriculture, A. & M. College of Texas. \ *In cooperation with the School of Veterinary Medicine, A. & M. College of Texas "In cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. CONTENTS. Nature of Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .: . . . . . . . . . . .. 5 Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 ‘The Weather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Rice Experiments: Fertilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ._ . . . . . . . . . 8 Depth of Plowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Time of Plowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Seedbed Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Rate of Seeding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Date of Seeding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Drilling vs. Mudding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 11 Eradication of Weeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 11 Variety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Corn Experiments: Fertilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Variety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Cotton Experiments: Fertilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Variety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Sudan Experiments: Fertilizer . . . . . . . . . . .» . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Rate of Seeding . . . . . . . . . . . . . \ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Ratio of Green to Cured Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Japanese Sugar Cane Experiments: In Rotation with Rice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 In Rotation with Highland Crops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1'7 Fall Planting . . . . . . . . .~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Rate of Seeding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ; 18 ‘Grain Sorghum Seed Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 18 Miscellaneous Notes . . . . . . L . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i . . . . . . . . . . 19 Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Q . . . . . . . 2O [Blank Page in Original Bulletin] BULLETIN No. 258.- __ DECEMBER; 1919- REPORT OF AEXPERIMENTS, SUBSTATION N0. 4, A BEAUMONT, TEXAS. BY H. H. LAUDE. Substation No. '4, located six miles west of Beaumont, in one of the largest rice-growing sections in Texas, is one of the outdoor laboratories of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, and is used prinla-rily for the study of problems confronting the rice farmers. The chief subjects of investigation are the selection of varieties, the. value of fertilizers, control of weeds, crops suitable for rotation with rice, and methods of preparing the land and of planting the rice crop. The land lies comparatively level and the soil type is heavy clay. The results of investigations are applicable in general to farms in the rice- belt of Texas. ' A former report* of this substation gives the data regarding its establishment, operation, and results to 1914, inclusive. This publi- cation covers the period from 1.915 to 1918, inclusive, though earlier results are included in some cases to secure averages for a longer period and thus give more reliable information. A Results of experiments conducted on this substation have. been re- ported in the following-named publications: Japanese Sugar Cane as a Forage Crop, Bulletin No. 195. Progress Report, Substation No. 4, Beaumont, Texas, Bulletin No. 200. Spacing of Rows in Corn and Its Effect Upon Grain Yield, Bulletin No. 230. Control of Weeds in Rice Fields, Bulletin No. 239. THE WEATHER. The period from 1915 to 1918 inclusive, embraced one abnormally dry year, 1917, and no exceptionally wet years though certain short- periods of heavy rainfall are recorded, particularly in the fall of 191.8, when much damage was done to crops, limiting the amount of experi- ment data secured for that year. The storm in August, 1915, damaged crops severely and made it impossible to secure comparative yields in some of the tests on the substation. i A summary of the climatic conditions for the years 1915 to 1918 inclusive, is given in the following tables: *Bulletin No. 200, Progress Report, 1909-1914, Substation No. 4, Texas Agri- cultural Experiment Station, Beaumont, Texas. H. H. Laude. 6 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. Fig. 1.——P1at map of Substation N0. 4. The small blocks are 33 feet wide and 132 feet long, comprising one-tenth acre. i a r REPORT OF EXPERIMENTS, SUBSTATIQN’ No. 4. Fig. 2.-——Soi1 map of Substation No. 4. The darker areas represent the heavier types of soil. 1x7 8 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. Table L-Summary of meteorological data 1915 to 1918. Temperature Average , Humid- Daily Degrees F. ity Wind Evapor- Precipi- Year. _ Mean, Miles ation, tation, Max. Min. Mean per cent Inches Inches 1915 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 74 56 65 . . . . . . . . 58511 . . . . . . .. 0 1916. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 57 68 . . . . . . . . 46501 49.23 52 89 1917 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 77 55 66 77 46636 50.01 24 14 1918 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 57 68 79 40096 47.93 48.64 Mean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 56 66 78 47936 49.05 43.92 Long term means. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47.69 "No. years 1n long term... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Table 2.—Dat:es of last and first killing frosts and length of growing season. - Date Last Killing Date First Killing Length of Growing g Year Frost 1n Spring Frost in Fall Season, Days 1915 . . . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . April 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . November 16 . . . . . . . 227 1916 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 15. ._ . . . . . . November 14 . . . . . . . 273 1917 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . March 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . October 29 . . . . . . . . . 238 1918 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 5 . . . . . . . . . December 3 . . . . . . . . 301 Average . . . . . . . . . . . March 1. . . . . . . . . . . . November 15 . . . . . . . 259 “COTTONSEED MEAL PRODUCED THE MOST RICE, BUT A COMBINATION 0]!‘ AMMONIUM SULPHATE AND ACID PHOSPHATE MADE THE LARGEST PROFIT. Four years’ results of the application of fertilizers to rice are avail- able. In the following table are given the kinds and amounts of fer- tilizers used in each case and the average yields of rough rice for the dilferent treatments: Table 3.—Fertilizers for rice, arranged in order of their effect on yield, 1915;to;1918, inclusive.\\ l Fertilizer Applied ' Yield Pounds to u» ,_ Acre, Average of Kind; Pounds to the Acre Four Years Cottonseed Meal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 l 2048 Ammonium Sulphate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Acid Phosphate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 2018 Ammonium Sulphate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 2017 A ' S l h t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. _ 200 Pllildlslplhaltleli. i? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 2007 A ium S lphate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 i gIlIIOSDhHlIG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 1994- Acid Phosphate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 1927 Cottonseed Meal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 Acid Phosphate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 1873 A ' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. I 15o iviciiiiiggoiiihiit? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _. . . . . . . . . . . 12000 175s Manure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : . . . . . . . . . 12000 1625 Check—no fertilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1526 REPORT 0F EXPERIMENTS, SUBSTATION No. 4. 9 The composition of the different fertilizers used in these experi- ments was: Cottonseed meal, 43 per cent. protein, approximately '7 per cent. nitrogen. ’ Ammonium sulphate, 20.5 per cent. nitrogen. Acid phosphate, 16 per cent. Manure, from barnyard. The applications of different fertilizers have produced average in- creases in yield from 99 pounds to the acre in case of manure, to 552 pounds to the acre. in the case of cottonseed mealfi Applications of ammoniumsulphate or of a fertilizer in which ammonium sulphate was included have produced increases in yield of 468 to 492 pounds to the acre. The results show that the individual fertilizers rank in the following order, regarding effect- on yield: (1) cottonseed meal‘, (2) ammonium sulphate, (3) acid phosphate, (4) manure. The experiments conducted have shown that the value of a fertilizer for rice is influenced materially by the presence of weeds including grasses. In order to have the entire benefit of the fertilizer devoted to the production of rice it is necessary that the field be free of weeds. In case weeds are very abundant the application of fertilizers may even reduce the yield of rice. The low rank which manure has among the fertilizers has apparently been due to the introduction of weed seeds and thus the rapid increase of weeds on the land. The rate of in- crease of weeds is afiected not only by the kind of fertilizer but also by the amount of fertilizer applied, the heavier applications causing more ', rapid increase. In order to make the use of fertilizers for rice most profitable it is necessary to adopt some method of controlling the weeds. The method for doing this, explained in Bulletin No. 239, “Control of Weeds in Rice Fields,” has given excellent results. _ The rice on the fertilized plats showed a greater tendency to lodge than it did on the unfertilized plats. In a few cases, particularly with the heavier applications of fertilizers, enough lodging resulted to inter- fere with harvesting. In one instance lodging occurred early enough to apparently reduce the yield. The basis for selecting the best fertilizer is not solely the increased yield due to its application, but the increased yield in relation to the increased cost per acre. When the approximate costs to the acre of the different fertilizers used in this test are examined it is apparent that ammonium sulphate ranks first in profitableness, acid phosphate probably outranks cottonseed meal, and manure is the last in the list. A light application of ammonium sulphate and acid phosphate combined has given as good results as a medium amount of ammonium sulphate alone and is somewhat cheaper. ' IT PAID TO PLOW DEEP FOR RICE; The depth to which land is plowed for rice has had a. decided influence on the yield, the latter increasing with deeper plowing. .Table 4 gives the average data for three years when the land was plowed in the fall or winter preceding each crop. 1O TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. Table 4.——Yields of rice in depth-of-plowing test. Land plowed in fall or winter, hree y ar average. Average Yield, Gain Over Gain Over Depth Plowed, Inches Pounds to the Acre 2-inch Depth 5-inch Depth 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1706 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1803 97 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1980 274 177 In Table 5 the results cover a 53-year test on land plowed in the spring. Table 5.—-Yields of rice in depth-of-plowing test. Land plowed in spring, 5-year average. Gain Over 5-inch Depth Gain Over Average Yield, 2-inch Depth Depth Plowed, Inches Pounds to the Acre 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1103 136 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1802 235 99 These results show increases in the yield of rice due t0 deeper plowing regardless of the time of plowing. The gains, also, are suflicient to pay the extra cost of deeper plowing and leave an appreciable net profit. There is little difference in the yield of rice on land plowed in the l fall or early winter and that plowed later in the season. Fall or early winter plowing, however, has much advantage over spring plowing because it distributes the field labor over a longer period and reduces the cost of preparing the land for planting, due to the fact that fall- plowed land pulverizes readily with the disk and harrow. Tests which have been conducted tor six years, giving various amounts of preparation between the times of plowing and planting, show that two conditions should be attained in making the best seed bed for rice, and that these should prevail at time of planting: first, the ground should be sufficiently pulverized to insure a good stand; second, the land should be absolutely free of weeds. After these con- ditions have been secured additional preparatory tillage has not been beneficial. ' PLANT ENOUGH SEED TO INSURE A GOOD STAND OF RICE. Rice has been seeded at the rates of 6O pounds, 80 pounds, and 100 pounds of recleaned seed to the acre. The average yields in the experi- ments covering a period of five years show: The 80-pound rate has produced 93 pounds to the acre‘ more than the 60-pound rate. The 100-pound rate has produced 53 pounds to the acre more than the 80-pound rate. The 100-pound rate has produced 146 pounds to the acre more than the 60-pound rate. These results show that an ample amount of seed should be sown. The average of five years’ results in seeding rice at the depths of REPORT OF EXPERIMENTS, SUB-STATION No. 4. 11 1 inch, 2 inches, and 3 inches, respectively, shows a small increase in favor of the medium depth. y In the test t0 determine the best time t0 seed rice, plantings have been made at intervals of two weeks from the middle of March t0 the latter part of June. The results of five years’ work show little differ- ence in yield of seedings made between the middle of April and the first part of June. Smaller yields on the average result from plantings made earlier and later than this period. The method of drilling rice in moist ground has been compared with mudding in the seed. In each of the three years during which the test has been conducted the mudding method has produced higher yields than the method of drilling in moist ground. KEEPING WEEDS OUT OF THE FIELDS INCREASED THE YIELDS OF RICE. Tests have been conducted to find an effective method of controlling weeds in rice fields. A very successful means of accomplishing this result has been worked out in the experiments and is explained in detail in the bulletin entitled “Control of Weeds in Rice Fields.”* One year’s data have been secured since the results were published. This recent information corroborates the earlier tests and gives a 5-year average gain in yield of rice of 585 pounds to the acre where the weeds were controlled by this method, as is shown in the following table: Table 6.——Comparison of common method of rice production with special weed control method, _ five-year average, 1914 to 1918, inclusive. Yie‘d. Pounds Gain by Weed Method of Production to the Acre Control Method Common . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1839 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weed control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2424 HIGH YIELDING VARIETIES OF RICE ARE EASY TO FIND—QUALITY MUST BE CONSIDERED. It is estimated by experts that there are more than 5000 varieties of rice in the world, to say nothing of numerous strains selected out of these. It is obvious that among this large number there must be some varieties that are superior to the varieties in general use in Texas. A comparative test of varieties has been conducted including in different years 22 to 62 varieties planted in drilled plats and over 100 varieties and selections planted in rows. These rices were originally secured from various rice-growing countries of the world. In these tests comparisons have been made regarding yield, lodging, and gen- eral characters of the plant and grain. The results show the difficulty of securing varieties that yield high and also possess the other desirable characters necessary to make them successful commercial varieties. Some of the varieties tested, however, combine these factors in a satis- *Bulletin No. 239, Control of Weeds in Rice Fields, Texas Agricultural. Ex- periment Station, 1918. H. H. Laude. ' Q 12 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. factory way. The most common fault observed among high-yielding varieties is weak straw, which makes lodging prevalent among them. y Average yields of rice produced in drilled plats by some of the varieties tested two or more. years are given in the following table: Table 7.——Average yields of varieties of rice. _ _ Average Yield Average Yield in T. S. Number or Name of Variety 1n Pounds to the Barrels to the Acre Acre (162 Lbs.) 1595 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3130 19 32 1589 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2861 17 66 1581 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 2850 17 59 1585 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ._ 2628 16 22 1542 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2523 15 57 1583 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2400 14 81 1545 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2334 14 40 1587 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2305 14 22 1518 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . _ 2195 13 54 1586 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2187 13. 50 1627 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2129 13. 14 , Wataribune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2123 13. 10 1624 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .‘ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2046 12.62 Louisiana Pearl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2031 12. 53. 1564 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2009 12 40 Blue Rose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1929 11 90 The four varieties producing the highest average yields lodge badly . and therefore are barred from consideration as commercial rices. T. S. Nos. 1587 and 1518 also lodge readily. Fig. 3.—Varleties 0t rice grown in longnarrow plats lying side by side so that accurate comparisons can be made. T. S. No. 1583 stands up very well, is a rice of extra good quality, and has produced several hundred pounds to the acre more than the common varieties grown. This variety is being increased for distribu- tion to growers. Rnronrr OF EXPERIMENTS, SUBSTATION No. é. 13 MANURE PRODUCED MORE CORN THAN ANY CQMMERCIAL FERTILIZER. Acid phosphate, cottonseed meal, and manure were applied separately and in combination to corn in 1916, the results of which are given in the following table: Table 8.—Yields of corn in fertilizer test 1916. Fertilizer Applied Yield of Corn _ Bushels to the Acre Kind Pounds to the Acre Manure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12000 ' Acid Phosphate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 30. 82 Manure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12000 :, 29.97 Cottonseed Meal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 Apid Phosphate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 26. 84 Cottonseed Meal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 l 21.42 Acid Phosphate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ._ 200 20. 56 Check—no fertilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 20. 39 The results show an increase of a little over 10 bushels an acre for manure and acid, phosphate used in combination and slightly less for manure alone. Cottonseed meal and acid phosphate, when combined, gave an increase of 6 bushels, while each of these used alone gave small increases. THE SUCCESS OF CORN IN THE RICE BELT DEPENDS MUCH UPON THE VARIETY PLANTED. Varieties of corn have been tested for the purpose oi’ finding those which produce the highest yields in the rice belt. The particular varie- ties included in the test as well as the number have varied from year to year. In 1914, 1916, 1917', and 1918 the number of varieties tested was 29, 31, 23, and 9, respectively. The variety test in 1915 was damaged to such an extent by a storm in August that reliable infor- mation as to the relative value of the different varieties could not be secured. The highest yielding varieties together with their range in yields for each of the years are: 1914. U. S. Selection No. 136, Chappelle Prolific, Fentress Straw-i ~ berry, Virginia White Dent, Surcropper, Creole Yellow, Mosby Pro- lific, Hearn White, and Ferguson Yellow Dent. The respective yields of these varieties ranged from 16.51 bushels to 11.46 bushels to the acre. 1916. Schieberle, Biggs Prolific, Fentress Strawberry, Hastings Prolific, Thomas, Cockes Prolific, St. Charles White, Chisholm, and Surcropper. The range in yield of these varieties was 31.22 bushels to 26.09 bushels to the acre. y 1917. Schieberle, Ferguson Yellow Dent, White Mogul, Kirkpat- rick Strawberry, Fentress Strawberry, Davis, Giant White Red Cob, Surcropper, and Experiment Station Yellow. These yielded from {£0.70 bushels to 23.66 bushels to the acre respectively. A 14 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1918. Biggs Prolific, Chappelle Prolific, Hastings Prolific, Ferguson Yellow Dent, Thomas, Virginia White Dent, Creole, Surcropper, and Chisholm. These yielded 42.75 bushels to 33.25 bushels to the acre respectively. Considering the number of tests in which each variety was included, the number in which the Variety ranked relatively high in yield, as" well as the particular seasons in which each was included in the test, the best varieties may be listed in the following order regarding yield: Schieberle, Biggs Prolific, Hastings Prolific, Ferguson Yellow Dent, Fentress Strawberry, Thomas, Surcropper, and “Chisholm. In regard to quality these varieties may be listed in about the same order. Fen- tress Strawberry and Surcropper are softer than the other varieties and are too soft for best results in this locality. COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS INCREASED THE YIELD OF COTTON BUT MANURE GAVE LARGEST INCREASES. The fertilizers used for cotton consisted of acid phosphate, cotton- seed meal, manure, and combinations of these. The average yields of seed cotton for two years, corrections for soil variation being made, are given in the following table: Table 9.—~Yields of seed cotton in fertilizer test Fertilizer Applied Yield Seed Cotton, Pounds to the Acre. Average 1916 and Kind Pounds to the Acre 1917 . Manure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 12000 781.7 Manure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12000 Acid Phosphate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 771.0 Acid Phosphate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 599.9 Acid Phosphate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Cottonseed Meal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 584. 9 Cottonseed Meal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 434. 2 Check—no Fertilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370. 1 These results show that the use of 6 tons of manure more than doubled the yield of cotton. Acid phosphate gave gains of over 200 pounds of seed cotton to the acre, while cottonseed meal produced an increase of 64 pounds. DRAINAGE AND ADAPTED VARIETIES ARE NECESSARY FOR PROFITABLE COTTON PRODUCTION. The cotton variety test included 29 varieties in 1916 and 30 in 1917. The varieties producing more than 550 pounds to the acre of seed cotton in 1916 in order of yield are: Allen Express, Bank Account, Wooten Columbia, Cleveland Big Boll, Mortgage Lifter, and Mebane. The varieties yielding more than 600 pounds to the acre of seed cotton in 1917 are: Hawkins, Trice, Mebane, Bank Account, Mexican Big Boll, Lone Star, Cleveland Big Boll, and Union Big Boll. REPORT or EXPERIMENTS, SUBsTATIoN No. 4. 15 The varieties that were tested both years and that produced the highest average yield are given in the following table: Table 10.-—Yields of cotton varieties average 1916 and 1917. _ Average Yie'd Variety Seed Cotton, Pounds to the Acre Bank Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 633 Mebane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 599 Mortgage Lifter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 543 Union Big Boll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 532 Cleve'and Big Boll . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 526 Hawkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522 Fig. 4.——The different varieties of cotton are ‘picked, weighed and - ginned separately. APPLICATION_ OF MANURE NEARLY DOUBLED THE YIELD OF SUDAN GRASS. The yields of Sudan grass hay given in Table 11 show good increases for the different fertilizers. Table 11.—Yields of Sudan hay on fertilized plats in 1917. Fertilizer Applied ' Yield, Pounds to Kind Pounds to the Acre the Acre Manure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12000 4105 Manure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12000 Acid Phosphate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 _ 3497 Acid Phosphate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 3262 Acid Phosphate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 . Cottonseed Meal.’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 2985 Cottonseed Meal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 2708 Check—no fertilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2328’ 16 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. These results show manure to be the best fertilizer for Sudan grass, acid phosphate ranking second, and cottonseed meal third. HEAVY RATES OF SEEDING SUDAN HAVE NOT BEEN NECESSARY. Sudan grass produces a large amount of forage, which may be utilized for hay, pasture, or silage. » The‘ yields of Sudan hay secured from the planting of different amounts of seed to the acre in close drills are given in the following table: Table 12.—-Yields of Sudan hay in rate of seeding test. Yield, Pounds Hay to the Acre- ' First Cutting - Pounds Seed to the Acre 1914 I 1917 I . Average 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4095 25 3297 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4967 2150 3558 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4646 2140 3393 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4481 2150 3315 40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4658 2550 3604 These data show little difierence for the different rates of seeding and indicate that the chief requirement is to secure a good uniform stand. Sudan grass may be planted either in rows which are cultivated, or in close drills without cultivation. Usually heavier yields are secured by planting in rows and by giving one or two cultivations. On account of heavy precipitation, high humidity, and poor drainage, frequently conditions are not favorable for curing Sudan hay. In order to use the crop more successfully growers should be prepared to pasture it or harvest it for silage when conditions are not suitable for curing hay. ONE TON OF HAY WAS OBTAINED FROM 2.6 TONS OF GREEN SUDAN GRASS. In 191'? the yields of green forage and cured hay were secured from the first cutting on a field of l} acres of Sudan grass. The yield of green forage was 9,592- pounds to the acre, and of cured hay, 3,637 pounds to the acre. The ratio between green forage, which is equal to silage yield, and cured hay was, in this case, 2.6 to 1. JAPANESE SUGAR GANE* MADE LARGE YIELDS ON RICE LAND. The value of Japanese sugar cane as a forage crop on rice land has- been quite conclusively shown. The difliculty in finding a satisfactory crop to grow after rice is the greatest obstacle in rotating rice with highland crops. Japanese sugar cane fills this place profitably and better than any other cropthat has been tested. The yield‘ of Japanese sugar cane the first year after rice as an average of three years was 25,002 pounds to the acre of green forage. ‘For a more complete discussion see Texas Agricultural Experiment Station- Bulletin No. 195, entitled “Japanese Sugar Cane as a Forage Crop.” Leidigh, McNess, and Laude. REPORT or EXPERIMENTS, SUBsTATIoN No. 4. 1'7 IQ Fig. 5.-—-Stubble crop of Japanese sugar cane on rice land. It is dense and . almost seven feet high August 6. The average of two second-year crops, that is, crops grown from the stubble, was 48,254 pounds to the acre. These results were secured on heavy rice land. On lighter rice land where highland crops had preceded the cane the average yield of four first-year crops of Japanese sugar cane was 41,666 pounds to the acre of green forage. The average yield of three second- year crops grown from these stubble fields was 27,045 pounds to the acre. 1915, and in 1916 yielded 63,263 pounds to the acre of green forage. Japanese sugar cane was planted in a well-drained field in November, - 18 It TEXAS AGRICULTURAL. EXPERIMENT STATION. A This is the large-st yield secured the first year and indicates the ad- visability of planting in the fall provide-d drainzige is good. In 1917 a second-year crop after rice, yielding 65,677 pounds of green forage to the acre, was harvested from heavy rice land. The results of the tests to determine the proper rate of seeding Japanese sugar cane show higher yields from the thicker rates. Table 13.—Rate of pfanting seed canes o" Japanese sugar cane. _ _ Yield——Green Forage, Rates of Planting Canes 1n Rows Five Feet Apart PoHnds lo the Acre, 3-year Average 1 line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20,552 2 lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27,131 3 lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,666 The Weight of seed cane required to plant an acre varies with con- ditions but can be approximately estimated at 1, 2, and 3 tons to the acre for the respective rates. The number of canes to the acre will, of course, depend upon the relative length of the canes, but may also be estimated, in the case of good seed canes, at 2000, 4000, and 6000 for the respective rates of planting given in the table. Fig. 6.—Sha1lu is‘ one of the best grain sorghums, but it will not regularly pro- duce high yields. SORGHULIS CANNOT BE DEPENDED UPON FOR GRAIN. The production of seed in several grain sorqhums tested on the station has been rather uncertain on account of the sorghum midge. Some of the crops were not affected by the midge and produced good yields of grain. Sparrows have damaged all the grain sorerhums when grown in small areas. All factors considered, Shallu is the best grain REPORT OF EXPERIMENTS, SUBSTATION No. l!) sorghum among those tested, which include Blackhul White kafir,‘ Pink kafir, Sehrock kafir, Feterita, and Shallu. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.‘ Burr clover which was plante-d in the pasture has increased annually and furnishes much pasture in the winter and spring. Lespedeza is increasing rapidly in the lawn, pasture, and along the field roads. Both of these clovers are thoroughly inoculated with nitrogen-gathering bacteria. , Crimson clo-ver treated with inoculation culture from the U. S. Department of Aggriculture, was very well inoculated, while the check plats receiving no treatment showed practically no inoculation. One to two tons to the acre of rice hay ranging in quality from good to excellent were obtained in 1915 after the main rice crop was harvested. The stems were small and the hay contained some grain. Cowpeas can be depended upon to produce a heavy growth of vines but seed production is irregular. Seven. varieties of rust-resistant types of oats grown in the spring of 1916 were all seriously damaged by rust. In a variety test of soy beans in 1917 Wl(l€ variations were noted among varieties in regard to size of plant, time of maturity, seed yield, adaptability for forage production, percentage of. protein, and oil content. ‘More than "forty varieties and selections of caster beans were grown in 1918, exhibiting a wide range of variation in plant characters. In general it was observed that the dwarfcr, earlier maturing types pro- duced the most seed. Eighty-seven bushels to the acre of Early Rose Irish potatoes were produced in the spring ot 1916. Six other varieties yielded, less. Early fall planting of Irish potatoes in 1918 produced new potatoes until‘ Christmas. Tobacco made excellent growth in 1916 and 1917, but the quality and texture were poor. ' Dewberry T. S. No. 4036, produced 615 gallons to the acre in 1917. Cantaloupes of excellent quality were grown in 1915 and 1916. 'The Rocky Ford type including the varieties Netted Rock King, Eden Gem, RustResistant, and Improved Hoodoo were the best quality. The Pencil Pod and Surecrop Stringless varieties have produce-d the best quality ot wax garden beans, and Round Six “leeks and Stringless Green Podded have been superior among the green-podded varieties. The small White Lima climbing bean produced. throughout the sum- mer and until frost in 1918. Among the vegetables tested mustard, spinach, turnips, carrots, beets,’ radishes, lettuce, cabbage, and cauliflower are good winter truck crops. Tomatoes, egg-plant, peppers, and okra are ziniong the most successful summer garden crops. Technical research investigations were begun on the effect ot (lit-fer- 4 ent environments on the development ol the rice plant, the results of which should indicate proper methods of culture. a 2O TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. SUMMARY. a Conditions on Substation No. 4 are especially suitable for the study of rice—farm problems. _ ‘ Cottonseed meal produced the most rice, but a light application of ammonium sulphate and acid phosphate combined, or a medium appli- cation of either one alone was more profitable. ~ The application of fertilizers to rice aided Weed growth, and some- times caused the rice to lodge. , Deep plowing for rice has been very profitable when compared ivith shallow plowing. Very little difference in yield of rice wasfound between fall or early winter plowing, and spring plowing. The. best seedbed for rice has been secured when the ground is, sufficiently pulverized to insure a good stand and all the weeds are’ killed. It is important to plant enough seed to insure a good stand of rice. Rice can be “mudded in” very successfully when conditions are not favorable for drilling. Weeds can be kept out of rice fields and the yields thereby materially increased. ' High-yielding varieties of rice are easy to find, but consideration must also be given 'to stiffness of straw, shattering, _and other factors affecting the value of the product. Manure is the best of the fertilizers applied to corn, while cottonseed meal and acid phosphate combined rank second. The success of corn in the rice belt depends much upon the variety planted. , ' - Commercial fertilizers increased the yield of cotton, but manure pro- duced greater increases. Drainage and adapted varieties are necessary for profitable cotton production. All the fertilizers used increased the yield of Sudan grass but manure produced much the highest yields. Heavy rates of seeding Sudan grass have not been found necessary. One ton of Sudan hay was obtained from 2.6 tons of green Sudan. Japanese sugar cane in rotation with rice was the best crop tested for this purpose. _ _ It seems advisable to plant Japanese sugar cane in the fall provided drainage is good. Three lines of seed canes yielded more Japanese sugar cane than thinner rates of seeding. This is equal to about 6000 canes or 3 tons of seed canes to the acre. Sorghunrs cannot be depended upon for grain on account of the sorghum midge, which destroys some of the crops.