A27-1216-12m

TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT snmow

BULLETIN NO. 202 DECEMBER, 1916

PROGRESS REPORT 0F SUBSTATION NO. 12,
CHILLICOTHE, TEXAS

1905-1914

BY

R. W. EDWARDS, B. S.,

SUPERINTENDENT

 

VPOSTOFFICE:
COLLEGE STATION, BRAZOS COUNTY, TEXAS.

é»
AUSTIN, TEXAS:
VON BOECKMANN-JONES c0., PRINTERS,
1916. Y

I

AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE OF TEXAS

W. B. BIZZELL, A. M. D. C. L.. President

TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

h:
O
m

U1?‘
Uimg,

  
 
  
  

. . BATTLE, Marlin ................ ..
. BREIHAN, Bartlett ............ ..

Er!“
>t11

a
5U

é
>

>
U!

N I. GUioN, Ballinger, President ...................... ..
. HART, San Antonio, Vice-President .............. ..
. . AsTIN, Bryan. ........................................... ..
. . WILLIAMS, Paris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

. KUBENA, Fayetteville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' I I . ' ‘ I ' Q . ' - . ' u
. MILLER, JR., Amarillo... ...... ..
. DAviDsoN, Cuero ............................................ ..

................................................. .......Term expires 1921

Term expires 1919
Term expires 1919
....Term expires 1919
....Term expires 1917
....Term expires 1917
....Term expires 1917
....Term expires 1921

..Term expires 1921

  

MAIN STATION COMMITTEE

L. J. tum; Chairman

J. S. WILLIAMS

W. A. MILLER, Jr-

GOVERNING BOARD, STATE SUBSTATIONS

P. L. D0wNs, President, Temple ............................ ..

CHARLES RocAN, Vice-President, Austin.....
W. P. HOBBY, Beaumont .......................... ..

J. E. Booo-ScoTT, Coleman .................................... ..

.................................................... ..Term expires 1919

_Term expires 1919
........... ..Term expires 1917

  

.................................................... ..Term expires 1921

STATION STAFF *

ADMINISTRATION

B. YOUNGBLOOD, M. S., Director

A. B. CoNNER, B. S., Vice I..-'irector

CHAS. A. FELRER, Chief Clerk

A. S. WARE, Secretary

DIVISION OF VETERINARY SCIENCE

M. FRANcIs, D. V. S., Veterinarian in
Charge

H. SCHMIDT, D. V. IVI., Veterinarian

DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY _ _

G. S. FRAPs, Ph. D., Chemist in Charge;
State Chemist

W. T. P. SPROTT, B. S., Assistant Chemist

H. LEBESON. M. S.. Assistant Chemist_

CRARLEs BUCHWALD, M. S., Assistant
Chemist

DIVISION OF HORTICULTURE _ '
H. NEss, M. S., Horticulturist in Charge
W. S. HOTCHKISS, Horticulturist
DIVISION OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

J. C. BURNs, B. S., Animal Husbandman,
Feeding Investigations

J. M. J)NES, A. M., Animal Husbandman,
Breeding Investigations

DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY

F. B. PADDocR, M. S., Entomologist in
Charge; State Entomologist

H. . RINEHARD, B. S., Assistant Ento-
mologist

County Apiary Inspectors

R. C. Abernathy, Ladonia; William Atch—
ley, Mathis; J. W. E. Basham, Barstowf
Victor Boeer, Jourdanton; T. \V. Burle-
son, Waxahachie; W. C. Collien-Goliad;
E. W. Cothran, Roxton; G. F. Davidson,
Pleasanton; John Donegan, Seguin;
A. R. Graham, Milano; H. Grossen-
bacher, San Antonio; J. B. King, Bates-
ville; N. G. LeGear, Waco; R. A. Little,
Pearsall; H. L. Mofield, Hondo; M. C.
Stearns, Brady; S. H. Stephens, Uvalde;
M. B. Tally, Victoria; Jas. W. Traylor,
Enloe; R. E. Watson, Heidenheimer; W.
H. White, Greenville; W. P. Bankston,
Buffalo; F. C. Belt, Ysleta.

DIvIsIoN OF AGRONOMY _ _

A. B. CoNNER, B. S., Agronomist in Charge

A. H. LEIDIGI-I, B. S., Agronomist

L0UIs WERMELSKIRCHEN, B. S., Agronomist

DIVISION OF PLANT PATHOLOGY AND

PHYSIOLOGY

J. J. TAUBENIIAUs, Ph. D., Plant Patholo-
gist and Physiologist in Charge

A. D. JOHNSON, B. S., Graduate Assistant

DIVISION OF POULTRY HUSBANDRY

R. N. HARVEY, B. S., Poultryman in Charge

DIVISION OF FORESTRY
J- FOSTER, M. F., Forester in Charge;
State Forester

DIVISION OF PLANT BREEDING
E. P. HUMBERT, Ph. D., Plant Breeder in
Charge
J. S. MooFoRD, B. S , Graduate Assistant

DIVISION OF DAIRYING
J. E. HARPER, M. S., Dairyman in Charge

DIVISION OF FEED CONTROL SERVICE

JAIvIEs SULLIVAN, Executive Secretary

J. H. RoGERs, Inspector

W. H. Wo0D, Inspector

T. H. \V0LTERs, Inspector

S. D. PEARcE, Inspector

\V. M. WIcRERs, Inspector

T. B. REEsE, Inspector

SUBSTATION NO. 1: BeeviIle,_Bee County
E. h. BINFORD, B. S., Superintendent
SUBSTATION NO. 2: Troup, Smith County
W. S. HOTCHKISS, Superintendent
SUBSTATION NO. 3: Angleton, Brazoria
County
N. E. \VINTERs, B. S., Superintendent
SUBSTATION NO. 4: Beaumont Jeflerson
County
H. H. LAUDE, B. S., Superintendent
SUBSTATION NO. 5: Temple, _Bell County
D. I‘. KILLOUGH, B. S., Superintendent
SUBSTATION NO. 6: Denton, Denton County
V. L. CORY, B. S., Superintendent
SUBSTATION NO. 7: Spur, Dickens County
R. E. DICKSON, B. S., Superintendent
SUBSTATION NO. 8: Lubbock, Lubbock

County
R. E. KARPER, B. S., Superintendent

SUBSTATION NO. 9: Pecos, Reeves Count)
J. W. JACKSON, B. S., Superintendent
SUBSTATION NO. l0: (Feeding and Breeding

Substation), College Station, Brazos
County
E. R. SPENcE, B. S., Animal Husbandman
in Charge of Farm _
G. F. JORDAN, B. S., 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
SUBSTATION NO. 13: Sonora, Sutton Count;
E. M. PETERs, B. S., Acting Superintenden.

CLERICAL ASSISTANTS

J. M. SCHAEDEL, Stenogra her
DAIsY LEE, Registration lerk

W. F. CHRISTIAN, Stenographer
ELIZABETH WALKER, Stenographer
E. E. KILBORN, Stenographer

*As of December 1, 1916

 

C. L. DURsT, Mailing Clerk

A. T. JACKSON, Stenographer
W. E. TURNER, Stenographer
CARL ABELL, Scientific Assistant

**In cooperation with United States Department of Agriculture.

CONTENTS. ‘

PAGE.
Introduetion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5

Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6i

Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Soil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Climate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..é . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '7

Experiment Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . '. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1O

General Methods Employed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . . .. 10

Sorghum Variety Tests . . . . . . .2 . . . . . . . I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Kafirs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .' . . . . . . . . . . 11

Hilos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 13

Feterita . . . . . .2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ‘V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Freed Sorgo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Iiaoliangs . . . . . . . . . ; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Sorgos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 15

Rate and Date of Planting Sorghums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ’. .  . . . 17

Rates in Close Drills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 18

Date Plantings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19

Sudan Grass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 19

Rate of Seeding for Hay Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 20

Method of Planting . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 22

Millet" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Annual Legumes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 24

COWPQHS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 25

Soy Beans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . L‘. . . 25

Other Annual Legumes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 26

Alfalft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 26

Miscellaneous Clrops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 28

Vetclies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 28

Qunflowers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 28

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

[Blank Page in Original Bulletin]

PROGRESS REPORT OF SUBSTATION N0. 12, CHILLICOTHE,
, TEXAS, 1905-1914. a

BY B. W. EDWARDS, SUPERINTENDENT.

IN COOPERATION WITH THE OFFICE OF FORAGE CROP INVESTIGATIONS,
' UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

' The Chillicothe substation was established in 1905 by cooperative
agreement between the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and the
United States Department of Agriculture. From that time untillJan-
uary 1, 1916, the method of cooperation continued with very little
change. The Department of Agriculture paid practically the entire
field expenses, such as rent of land, purchase of machinery and other
equipment, salary of man in charge and the hiring of; labor. The
Texas Experiment Station, on the other hand, gave the station its
moral Support, furnished a team and ap-plied Such funds as were re-
ceived from the sale of Station products to the general expenses of the
Station, Both parties shared equally in the results and received dupli-
cate copies of reports on the experiments conducted. Mr. A. B. Conner
had direct supervision over the Work from 1905 to 1911, inclusive.
He was succeeded by Mr. G. E. Thompson in 1912, and since March,
1913, the writer has been in charge. The Station was operated from
1905 to 1914, inclusive, on rented land. It Was first located on a
tract of ten acres one mile northeast of Chillicothe. In 1911 a new
location of thirty acres was secured adjoining the townsite on the
northwest and along the Fort Worth & Denver City Railroad. This
land was used until 1915, when a tract of one hundred acres, situated
five miles southwest of Chillicothe, was leased. The Texas Legislature
in 1915 appropriated funds for the purchase and improvement. of this
latter tract of land, and thef arm became known as Texas Substation
No. 12.

Experiment work with forage crops at the Chillicothe (Texas) sub-
station has been conducted cooperatively since 1905 by the Office of
Forage Crop Investigations, Bureau of Plant Industry, United States
Department of Agriculture and the Texas Agricultural Experiment
Station. Both parties have shared equally the results of the work, and
triplicate records have been’kept,—one set to go for the Ofiice of

Forage Crop Investigations in Washington, D. C., one set to the Texas-

Experiment Station, and the third set to remain in the substation files
at Chillicothe.

The incentive for experiment work with forage crops at Chillicothe
was, primarily, the finding of varietieswhich possessed unusual drouth
resistance, and the selection and improvement of these varieties. Crops
belonging to the sorghum family are considered best adapted to the
successful production of forage in this region and have been given
first attention. .A secondary consideration was the finding of some

j--z< >:.:c~;c;=:cr_.-;=::-;‘~..=:+;;'z€:;~:-‘::.>>-w..=-v~ iQ¢-‘1;E"~;-m;'..=' ...= ~.-‘-.=..v“__~. P¢v“~;' _ ,.. m, _,e " n ,,,_ __,‘,_. _',1:_, .___~-_ e e ~ m ;~,_

6 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMEXT STATION.

leguminous crop which could be utilized both as a forage and for its

fertilizing effects upon the soil. _

During the ten yiears with which this report. deals, no less than fifteen
hundred varieties and selections of plants belonging to the sorghum
family have been grown in trial plats. Naturally out of this large
number a very few have been found of sufficient value to take the place
of common varieties so generally grown by farmers in this section of
the country. It has been the policy of the Station to test each variety
or selection through several seasons before either discarding it or ad-
vocating its adoption by farmers. Some new plants, of course, show
up so poorly that they may be discarded after one trial, while it is
difficult to place others even after growing them several years.

In addition to the sorghums, a large number of varieties of millet,
annual legumes, perennial grasses, and alfalfa have been tested. At-

' tempts have also been made to determine by detailed experiments the

best rate, date, and method of planting the crops. Approved methods
of cultivation have always been employed.

This report is intended as a summary of the results secured along all
lines of work for the ten years following the establishment of the
Station.

DESCRIPTION.

Ohillicothe, Texas, was selected as a locality in which to carry on
experiment work with forage crops as the general conditions at this
place are such as to make results secured there applicable to a con-
siderable scope of country. In general, this territory may be defined
as the region in Texas from Wichita Falls on the east to Clarendon
on the west, south through the greater portion of West Texas and
north through lVestern Oklahoma.

Location.

The Chillieothe substation is located near the town of Chillicothc,
in the eastern part of Hardeman county. It has an altitude of 110G
feet, longitude 99 degrees, and latitude 31 degrees.

Soil.

The soil on which experiments were first conducted was a fertile.
chocolate colored, sandy loam varying in depth from eighteen inches to
two feet and un-derlaid by a compact sand. This ground was easily
plowed and cultivated when in proper condition. Because the soil lacked
in uniformity, however, the work was moved in 1911 to a block of
thirty acres on another farm atljoining the townsite. This soil was
much less sandy than the first, being commonly termed very “tight”
land. In addition to having a much more uniform soil than the first
tract, this farm was more publicly situated, making it easily accessible
to visitors. ‘I

In 1915 another change was made to a 100-acre farm five miles
southwest of Chillicothe. This is a mixed sandy loam and very uni»

PRooREss REPORT or TEXAS SUBSTATION No. 12. p '7

form in character. The present report, however, deals only with the
results at the two former locations, up to and including the crop
season of 1914.

Climate.

Table 1 contains a record of the annual precipitation at Chillicothe
 by months for the years 1906 to 1914, inclusive.

TABLE 1.

 Monthly and Annual Precipitation at Chillicothe, Texas, From 1906 to 1914, Inclusive, With
w. Monthly and Yearly Averages.

   
  
   
   
  
   
  
 
   
    
  
   
   
   

>- 5 6' 5
>, r- _ h; '9 I-I -Q ..Q
g g '5 __. >2 U g g é § GE, Total.
c. g ‘<3 a =11 g .2’ E1,” g 3 Z 3
i,‘ u. 2 < 2 >1 i’ < u; o Z Q
1 r 
0 0 .90 3.92 1.78| 4.20'.8 71 2.67 5 20 4.58l T l 0 31.78
0 0 3.42 .98 7.81[ 2.58 146 1.52 1.71 6.6 .80 0 26.88
T T‘ .28 3.51 6.40 8.41 5 68 T 222 1.84 4.131 T 32.47
0 .22 1.89 1.41 .56 8.06 49 1.07 .26 1.84 4.57 0 20.37
.64 .08 1.08 1.39, 2.74 1.91 1 42 1.74 1.22 1.30 .14 .53 14.19
.10 3.89 .12i 1.80. 1.53 .06 3 35 3.41 3.04 .81 .60 5.07 24.18
0 1.86 3.22 1.82 .53 4.69 1.39 3.05 2.92 2.73 .08] .34 22.63
.35 1.90 1.32 1.77 1.01 2.33 .29 .05 4.21 4.71 2.79 5.51 26.24
l T 30' 1.68240. 616' 1.67 1 76 8.47 1.04 1.44 41y 1.28 26.59
y 12]‘ 92; 155' 2.11] 3 17; 3.77 2 73 2.44 2 40 2.87’ 1.50‘ 1.41 25.03

ne-year period was 25.03 inches. The maximum annual rainfall
ring the period was 32.617 inches in 1908, and the minimum was’
p.19 inches in 1910. June has the heaviest average monthly rainfall,
2th May, October and July coming next in order of amount.
aWere the rainfall always near the normal there would be little‘ diffi-
ty in the production of crops so far as moisture is concerned. Both.
and dry extremes, however, are common, and it is the periodof
uth which occurs at some time in nearly every year that the farmer
i1 consider in his selection of crops and methods of planting and
 tivation.
Neither the totals of monthly nor yearly precipitation can be taken
“a complete index of conditions. Torrential rains are common in
spring and summer months, givinga heavy downpour for a. short
,7 , thus entailing a great deal of run-off. On the other hand. light
‘wers of one-fourth inch or less are common. These showers all add
§the total rainfall, but often are of little or no value to growing
s, since if followed by hot, sunshiny weather the moisture soon
orates and is lost.
emperatures of 100 degrees F. and above are common during July

,sifying the effects of drouth.

. e wind. is another determining factor in cro-p production. High
 especially during the spring and early summer, cause rapid
‘ration from the surface soil and transpiration from the leaves of
’ s. In winter- the occasional snowfall is frequently swept from

FAugust, and usually coincide with a deficiency in moisture, thus"

8 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION.

T. "h." ..,¢____i:___. .. -

V Figure 1. One-horse planter With press Wheel used in planting row
' sorghums at Chillicothe substation.

Figure 2. Planter which opens a furrow and plants the seed in one opera-
tion. The per cent. of germination has been increased by attaching
a press Wheel to this planter.

 

 

Figure 3. Type 0f planter in common use by farmers in vicinity 0f Chillieothe.

 

  i
Figure 4. Drill used in making close drilled plantings at the Chillicothe
substation. A set 0f press Wheels attached t0 this drill has aided

.i;:,-..-_1,;g,.;—-.r._;

germination.

   

 rs‘ m as.» .14 ‘z-xv» §v_aA‘_."&al s. vfi<e< . ~. -. \P‘<@

10 _ Texas AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION.

the fields and the moisture it brings is largely lost to cultivated crops.
The more sandy soils are often damaged and crops 0n them destroyed
in the spring by winds which drift the surface soil, covering up or
cutting off the young plants.

It is under such conditions, which are so common throughout West
Texas, then, that the work at Chillicothe has been carried on.

EXPERIMENT \VORK.

The experiment Work with forage crops at the Chillicothe Substation
has been conducted for the purpose of determining (l) the adaptability
of varieties to conditions and their relative value for the farmer; (2)
the introduction of new varieties or strains; (3) improvement of the
most promising varieties, and (4) methods and dates of planting which
will produce the highest yields. I

General Methods Employed.

Plowing in preparation for spring crops has always been done as
early in the fall or winter as practicable and to a depth of seven or
eight inches. In some instances, due to unfavorable conditions or the
lateness of removing previous crops, it has been necessary to defer
plowing until late in the ‘winter or early spring. In these cases the
ground was plowed shallower than when p-lowed in the fall. Fall
plowing is not harrowed down until spring in order that the rough
surface may better catch and hold the winter rain or snow. Previously
to planting, suflioient disking and harrowing is done to pulverize the
surface or destroy weeds and prepare a good seedbed.

Row plantings have, for the most part, been made in shallow furrows,
the land being furrowed out with a large sweep and the seed planted
in the bottom of the furrow. A planter having a press wheel is used
in planting. The press wheel has proved quite essential to the secur-
ing of good stands under various conditions. ' '

Close drilled seedlings or sorghums, Sudan grass, millet and alfalfa
are made with a single disk grain drill. A set of press wheels recently
purchased for this drill have greatly aided in the securing of rapid
and complete germination of the seed. .

Cultivation of crops has been thorough, but not to the extent of being
impractical. Various types of cultivators and harrows are used, de-
pending upon the condition of the soil and the character of the work
to be done.

Previously to 1913 most plantings were on plats one-tenth acre in size.
Since then plantings have been made in one-twentieth acre plats and
duplicated. This" applies only to the more general experiments. In
some instances there is neither sufficient seed nor enough land avail-
able to make all plantings on this scale. Many of the new introduc-
tions and selections are planted in smaller plats, or single rows, vary-
ing in length from one to ten rods. The most promising varieties in
the small plats of one year are grown in larger plats the next season.

PROGRESS REPORT or Texas SUBSTATION No. 12. 11

SORGHUBI VARIETY TESTS.

K a firs.

The kafirs in general are characterized by good yields and excellent
quality) of both forage and grain under favorable conditions, but do not
yield as Well as dwarf milo or feterita under the unfavorable conditions
of a very dry season. ' . '

The forage and grain yields of blackhul kafir, dwarf milo and
feterita are-given in Table 2 for three contrasting seasons, 1908, 1913
and 1914, at Chillicothe. The period from April, to August, inclusive,
completely covers the growing season of these crops, and the rainfall
during this time will give some idea. of the conditions prevailing in
each of the three years. From the amount of rainfalhand general
records kept, the season of 1908 would be considered very favorable
for the production of sorghum crops except for a drouth during August.
The same period in 1913, on the other hand, was very unfavorable, as
there was at no time an abundance of moisture. Considering 1914 in
the same way, it might well be classed as an average season.

' TABLE 2.

A Comparison of the Seasonal Rainfall and the Yields of Blackhul Kafir, Dwarf Milo and
_ ‘ ' Feterita at Chillicothe in 1908, 1913 and 1914. _

Rainfall, Forage Yieldsin Tons Seed Yields in Bushels
Inches, April per Acre. per Acre.

Year. to Xugust ‘ .

Inclusive. Blackhul Dwarf Feterita. Blackhul Dwarf Feterita.

Kafir. Milo. Kafir. Milo.

1908 24.00 2.99 2.58 . . . . . . . . .. 28.9 20.8 . . . . . . . . ..
1913 5.45 .95 .98 .97 0.0 9.2 10.7
[914 20.46 1.75 2.55 2.25 12.5 22.0 23.4

   

From this table it will be seen that ka.fir outyielded milo in both
forage and grain in the favorable season of 1908, but that both milo
and fcterita produced higher yields in 1913 and 1914.

Table 3 gives the forage and grain yields of kafir and milo for
the years 1907 to 1914, inclusive, with averages and seasonal rainfall.
Considering the average yields of the eight years work, it will be
noticed that kafir has produced more forage and less grain than milo.
In addition, the kafir fodder is superior in quality to» that of milo,
so that both crops are valuable in their places, and farmers should
continue to plant some of both each year.

.__.. .._ _ .... .. m... ... ..

12 Texas AG-RICULTLWRAL EXPERIMENT STATION.

TABLE 3.

Forage and Grain Yields of Kafir and Milo for the Period From 1907 to 1914, Inclusive, With
Averages and Seasonal Rainfall.

_ _ Forage Yield in Seed Yield in
Rainfall, Inches, April t0 Tons per Acre. Bushels per Acre.
Year. August, Inclusive.
Kafir. Milo. Kafir. l Milo.
1907 14 35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3.35 2.76 30.6 30.2

1908 24 O0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2.99 2.58 28.9 20.8

1909 11 59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.93 131 0.0 9.7

1910 9.20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.98 1 12 0.0 12.8

1911 0.15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1.76 45 0.0 0.0

1912* 11.48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1913 5.45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 95 .98 0 0 9.2

1914 20.46 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1 75 2 55 12 5 22.0

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 14 71 11 75 7 20 104.7

Average . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2.10 1.68 10.3 15.0

*N0 record kept of yields.

There is considerable variation among the different varieties of kaiir.
By using a good strain of common blackhul kafir as a basis for com-
parison, early blackhull  P. I. No. 32,707) and dwarf kafir  P. I.
No. 24,98?) have produced slightly better yields under unfavorable
conditions, while red kafir  P. I. No. 19,492) and pink kafir (S. P.
I. No. 19,’I'~1-2) have produced’ higher yields in good years. These re-
sults are explained, in part at least, by the fact that the red and pink
varieties require a longer season than common blackhull, and are thus
subject to- greater injury from drouth. The early blackhull and dwarf
varieties, on the other hand, mature earlier and so have a better chance
to escape drouth. It seems to be a fact that in order to secure the
qualities of earliness and. sureness of producing a crop, which are com-
monly summed up in the term “drouth resistance,” it is necessary to

Figure 5. Blackhul Kafir in alternate rows with Cowpeas.

A method of Iilanting which furnishes good insurance against crop failure
in dry seasons. '

Pnoonnss Hnrom‘ OF TEXAS SUBsTATIoN No. 1.2. 13

sacrifice something in yield in good seasons. I11 ~other words, the most
drouth resistant varieties of kafir do not respond to abundant moisture
in the same proportion that many of the common or standard vari-
eties do. '

ZlI/ilos.

Dwarf milo is now commonly grown throughout West Texas and is
a reliable crop in all seasons. A selection has been bred up in which
tends to produce erect heads. Erectness ‘of head in milo, however, is
1. character largelv effected by conditions. Any condition, such as an
abundance of moisture or thin stand, which tends to the production
3f large heads results in a larger per cent. of them being recurved or
goose-necked.

Standard milo is characterized. by the production of large, tall stalks,
large heads, and hezwy yields. when planted on good soil with abundant
rnoisture. It, however, lacks the qualities found in dwarf milo which
nake it a dependable producer in dry seasons. The great height to
which it grows under favorable conditions is also objectionable, as it
nakes the crop difficult; to handle.

Dvrarf white milo (F. C. T. No. 5886) is a variety which has com-
Jared favorably xvith othcr grain sorghums, especially in very dry
=easons. 'l_‘he heads are small, compact, erect or nearly so, and the
=eed creamy white in color. The stems are smaller and taller than
‘hose of common dwarf milo and it produces very few suckers.

Table 4 shows the yields for (lwarf white milo, dwarf milo and
’eterita in 1913, an exceptionally dry season, and in 1911, an average
reason.

TABLE 4.

orage and Grain Yields of Dwarf White Milo, Dwarf Milo and Feterita at Chillicothe in
_ 1913 and 1914.

Forage Yield in Seed Yield in
Tons per Acre. Bushels per Acre.
Crop.

1913 1914 1913 1914
Iwarfwhitemilo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  , 1.10 1.98 17.5 21.3
Pwarf milo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98 2.55 9.2 22.0
eterita . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97 2.25 10. 7 23.4

Feteriia.

Feterita was first grown at the Chillicothe station in 1907, being
hen a new introduction from the Sudan region of Africa. For a. few
ears it was grown only intnursery rows, although it showed consider-
.ble promise from the first. In six years from’ the time of its first
ntrorluction this remarkable grain and forage sorghum had spread
ver the country until nearly every farmer in the Southwest semi-arid
egion was familiar with it. At Chillicothe it has proved to be well
dapted to conditions of any season, but is more especially valuable in
ears of severe drouth, as one of its strongest points is its ability to

-v1:r-z=~. <.__ Q @114,- .,.___. , _-

A-

14. ~ TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION.

produce fair crops with a. small amount of rainfall. From Table IV
it will be seento comp-are favorably in jyield with the milos. ~

A dwarf selection of feterita (F. C. I. No. 811) has consistently
produced higher yields at Chillicothe than the original  P. I. No.
19,517), is a few days earlier, not quite as tall, and is much more

l uniform in height and time of ripening.

Some of the objections to feterita are that owing to the soft seed
it frequently germinates poorly, that it shatters easily if let stand
until completely ripe, and that the seed becomes discolored if exposed
to the weather after it ripens. Each of these‘ objections, however, can
be largely overcome if kept in mind at planting and harvest time, by
planting rather thickly, and harvesting before the seed becomes thor-
oughly ripe and dry.

1 2 3

4
Photo in 1913 showing bundles of (1) White Milo F. C. I. No.
5887, (2) Dwarf White Milo F. C. I. No. 5886, (3) Dwarf Milo
‘S. P. I. No. 18,684 and (4) Feterita S. P. I. No. 19,517.

Figure 6.

There is considerable difference of opinion among farmers as to the
feeding value of feterita. Some value it highly, while others consider
it very inferior to milo. S-uffice it to say, that there are numerous
instances of all classes of live stock eating, relishing and thriving upon
it the same as they do on other kinds of grain sorghums.

Freed Sorgo.

Freed sorgo is a crop which has been difficult to classify. In man-
ner of growth and appearance it resembles amber sorgo, except that
the seed are white and more exserted from the glumes. The stem is
quite sweet until about the time the seed ripens, when its sweetness
largely disappears. The seed lacks the tannin found in sweet sorghums,
thus making it more valuable for feed.

 

am, _. W
Y’. ' h’

Pnoonnss REPORT OF TEXAS SUBSTATION No. 1.2. 15

y Freed sorgo is one of the earliest maturing sorghums, and ‘when
planted in May or June will mature in from eightyf to ninety days.
Its eaifliness, together with the certainty with which it produces a crop
under adverse conditions, make it valuable as a catch crop or for the

production of ‘early feed. In actual yield of forage and grain it is“

not equal to kafir, milo or feterita.

r 1-. .~.::=*'=.:-..l .

    

Us» Ju@.fi-:l~.¢a

Figure 7. Second growth of Feterita at Chillicothe in 1914.
F. C. I. No. 811 (at the 1eft),.S. P. I. No. 22,329 (at the right).

Kaoliangs.

None of the kaoliang varieties seem to be of much importance at
Chillicothe. The stalk is dry and pithy, having a low feeding value,
and the grain yield is not equal to milo or feterita. The kaoliangs may
yet come into prominence by the development of the meal or flour in-
dustry. Meal made from kaoliang grain has an excellent flavor when
used for hot cakes, muffins, and so forth. A recently introduced white
variety should be especially well adapted. to this purpose.

Surges.

The sorgos are primarily forage crops, and as such “they are more
valuable than the grain sorghum varieties heretofore mentioned. Many
farmers, however, can produce sufficient rough feed as a sort of by-
product in the production of grain from grain sorghums, and do not,
therefore, plant the sorgos extensively. Varieties of this type, never-

theless, hold an important place in the production of hay, bundle. fodder,

and silage.
Of the large number of sorgos that have been tested out at Chilli-
cothe, only the more promising types will be mentioned herein, and

  

 

_  .

16 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION.

an effort will be made to sum up briefly the good and bad features of
each. So far as the successful production of forage is concerned, three
types of sorgos (amber, orange and sumac) about cover the field.
There are, of course, a number of promising varieties in each of these
classes. .

The ambers are characterized buy early maturity, medium height and
comparatively small stem. A black glume variety known as Dakota
amber is very early and especially valuable in the production of hay or
early feed. It is not a heavy producer, however, and dries out laadlyr
if allowed. to stand in the shock-for tWo or more months after harvest-
ing. Red amberis slightly later in maturing and produces a heavier
yield of forage. Other varieties are black amber, hlinnesota amber,
Collier and lvlcLean sorgos. Each of these has its distinct type and

Figure 8. SumaciSorgo (at the left), Red Amber Sorgo (at the right).
Photo in 1914 ninety days after planting showing Red Amber nearly ripe and
Sumac not yet heading.

characteristics, but all are of similar value. All of the ambers produce
a good quality of hay when sown broadcast or in close drills, and give a
good yield also xvhen conditions are such as to make this a profitable
method of seeding

Orange sorgo is intermediate between the ambers and sumac in the
length of the season required for maturity. It is taller and coarser
than most of the ambers and retains the juice in its stalks for a longer
period. after harvest. A recently selected strain of orange (C. I. No.
490) is earlier and more dwarfed than the common strains. This
strain is quite promising and xvorthy of being planted more extensively
by farmers.

Sumac or red top is the standard sorgo of the South and is well
WOTtlly of this distinction. It requires a. comparatively long season for
maturity, but will stand extended periods of drouth and recover when

1*,’

PROGRESS REPORT OF TEXAS SUBSTATION No. 12. l

 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  

moisture becomes available. It is a rank grower, very leafy, juicy and
sweet, and has the faculty of retaining its juice and sweetness for
long- periods after harvest, thus insuring high palatability and feeding
value. An objection to sumac is that under favorable conditions it
‘grows so tall, and rank that it is harvested and handled with difficulty.
A his applies to both broadcast or close-drilled seedings intended for

 

s- used for silage, as heavy tonnage is one of the chief requisites.
 Dwarf Ashburne (S. P. L. No. 21,936) is a variety resembling sumac
general appearance, but is shorter, earlier, and has larger seed. It
very leafy and sweet and might well be used to replace sumac where
3| tall growth and late maturity of the latter are objectionable.

rup making, but not equal to sumac, orange or amber in quality
forage.

TABLE s.
arative Yields of Forage and Length_ of Season of the Common Sorgos at Clrillicothe

 

1n 1914.
Variety. Season Height Forage Yield in
Days. Inches. ‘ Tons per Acre.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  90 66 2.78

ta amber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9O 62 3.43

esota amber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 66 4. 55

er . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 69 4.50

r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 63 5.00

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 ' 69 8.18

c . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 *163 8O 7 .23

v nger than usual.

_ pith the exception of sumac, all of the varieties included in Table 5
 ered out after harvest and produced a. more or less immature
_nd growth, which is included in the column of yields. Season days
I height are given for the first crop only.

RATE AND DATE OF PLANTING SORGHUMS.

a ‘Quite complete experiments have been in progress since 1907 to
ermine the best rates and dates of planting sdrghums. Since these
jts are affected. to a large extent by seasonal conditions, the value
the results will depend largely upon the, number of years the experi-
j has been continued in which the average best rate or best date
éiplanting would approach the optimum for a normal year. In rate
planting experiments it is noticeable that the sorghum plant has
 ability to adapt itself to varying conditions of stand. The dif-
nces in yield due to different rates of planting, therefore, are less
jked than would be true with many other kinds of crops. It is
yat all uncommon to see a thin stand of sorghum send out enough
 to make a fairly thick stand and produce finer stems and smaller
is, so that there is often more difference in the quality of the crop
'11 in the total yield. In general, grain sorghums have produced

flay and row plantings, but is probably not an objection when it is to j

i Honey and gooseneck‘sorgos are tall, coarse varieties suitable for.

-~f  .. QQW»  7-9.3‘  ~_'~§<- sir-aw» w

WT?

18 TFEXms AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION.

higher yields of both forage and grain with a stand of one plant every
four to eight inches apart in the row than thinner. Sorgos have been
best, considering both quality and quantityrof forage, with plants from
two to four inches apart in the row. l

RATES IN CLOSE DRILLS.

The broadcast or close drilled method of seeding is not used exten-
sively by the plains farmer. On the average, larger yields of forage,
as Well as more grain, can be produced in row plantings. The greater
reliability of row plantings in withstanding drouth is a good reason for
discarding the thicker method except as a catch crop under peculiarly
favorable conditions.

‘The results of rate tests of seeding both sumac and red amber sorgos
in close drills at Chillicothe, wrhere the amounts of seed used varied

Figure 9. Cutting Sumac Sorgo in 1914 which was seed at 15 pounds per
acre. The growth was too tall and coarse to be easily
mowed, stacked or baled.

from 15 to '75 pounds per acre, show that red amber produced the high-'
est yield when seeded at 45 pounds and sumac at '75 pounds per acre.
In 1913, an exceptionally dry season, all close drilled seedings com-
pletely succumbed to the drouth, showing that any thick seeding rate
was too thick for that year.

Since sorghum seeded in this xvayr is usually handled like hay, the
fineness of growth, as well as the total yfield, is an important item. The
tall, coarse stalks usually produced from thin seedings are very dif-
ficult to handle when cut with a mower. Considering both yield and
qualityr of hay produced, the results at Chillicothe indicate that from
6O to '75 pounds of seed should be used when planted with a grain
drill. In seeding broadcast, from one-third to one-half more seed will
be required to secure the same stand as when se-eded with a drill.

PROGRESS REPORT 0F TEXAS SUBSTATION No. 12. 19

Date Plantings.

It is common knowledge that the sorghums do not germinate or
develop Well under the cool, damp conditions of early spring. It must
be remembered that these crops are native of a subtropical climate and
will reach their best development in the temperate climate only under
the warmest conditions. The seed should not be planted until the soil
is warm enough to insure quick germination. There is little argument
in favor of very early planting except the possibility of obtaining two
crops in one season. This is possible in many parts of Texas, with
early maturing varieties and favorable summer and fall conditions.
On the other hand, planting before the soil becomes well warmed up

' frequently results in poor germination, especially of the softer seeded

varieties. This is usually followed by a slow early growth which allows
the weeds to take advantage of the crop. _

The advantages of planting late, or about July 1~ at Chillicothe, are
quick germination, rapid growth and heavy yields of excellent forage.
On the other hand, the development of sorghums planted in July is
sometimes retarded by summer drouth, so that see-d will not fully
mature before frost. All things considered, the middle of the possible
planting season affords most satisfactory returns. At Chillicothe, May
plantings have given the highest grain yields, while the forage yields
have been consistently higher from plantings made on June 15 and
July 1. The foregoing is a summary of three and six years results from
planting feterita, milo, kafir, and sumac and freed sorgos on the first
and fifteenth of each month from April to July, inclusive.

SUDAN GRASS.

Sudan grass is supposed to be native of Egypt, but may have orig-
inated farther south in Africa; The first introduction into this country
was in March, 1909, when one-half pound of seed called “garawi_”_ was
received by the United States Department of Agriculture from the
Director of Agriculture and Lands, of. the Sudan Government, at Khar-
tum, Egypt. A portion of this seed was planted at‘ the Chillicothe
Station that spring, The grass lookedpromising from the, first, and
its present popularity in many States is evidence of its adaptability
and value in this country. v .

Botanically, Sudan“ grass is closely related tothe cultivated sorghums
with which it crosses readily when the-two are planted close together.
Its close resemblance to Johnson grass led many farmers to mistrust
it at first, but it is distinctly an annual and never develops the under-
ground rootstocks which are the chief objection to Johnson grass. It
is a fine stemmed, erect, leafy plant, which stools abundantly and grows
from three to five feet in height when broadcasted or close drilled. If
grown in cultivated rows and allowed to mature, it frequently reaches
a height of from six to ten feet. At the Chillicothe station it attains a
height of from two to five feet when broadcasted or close drilled. At
the Chillicothe station from two to four cuttings of hay are secured in

20 _ Texas AGRICULTURAL Exrriciziiiisxr STATION.

a season, depending yup-on rainfall and the time (it seeding. Yelds of
from four to six tons of hay per acre are not unusual under favorable
conditions. When planted in cultivated rows, seed yjields from 400 to
800 pounds per acre may’ be expected in normal see sons. Occasionally‘
two fully matured seed crops may be secured in one season.

Rate 0f Seeding for Hay Prodzietrimrz.

Sudan grass seed may be sown with an ordinary grain drill. Each
type of drill should be tested to determine how to set the feed to sow

Figure 10. Sudan Grass at the Chillicothe station
in 1909. The first grown in this country.

the desired amouent. The drill used at the Chillieothe Station, set to
seed two peeks of wheat to the acre, will sow about twenty pounds of
Sudan grass seed. There is considerable difference in Sudan grass
seed, depending upon the completeness with which it threshed out of
the hull. Table VI gives two years results with various rates of seed-
ing at the (Thillicothe Station.

PRoeREss REPORT or TEXAS SLTBSTATION No. 12. _ 21

TABLE 6.
Yields of Sudan Hay in Rate of Seeding Test at Chillicothe in 1913 and 1914.

_ _ Yield in Tons per Acre
Rate of Seeding 1n Pounds Per Acre.
1913 1914
10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.31

15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.51 5.57

2O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.26 5.01

25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5.17

30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70 . . . . . . . . . .

35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.84

40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68 . . . . . . . . . .

In 1913 the drouth was so severe that only two cuttings of hay Were
secured and both of these were light. It was noticeable, however, that
under these conditions the thickest seedings suffered xvorst and pro-

Figure 11. First cutting of Sudan Grass for hay at the Chillicothe
a station in 1914.

duced correspondingly  The season of 1914 was very favorable
and seeding rates produced good yields, with those of fifteen pounds per
acre as the best. '.l.‘he variation in stand due to different rates of seed-
ing is very marked when the grass first comes up, but gradually be-
comes less noticeable because of the stooling habit of the plant. The
thinner seedings ‘produce a taller, coarser growth and notas good
qualitiy of hay as is sccuie<l from seeding twenty pounds or more per acre.

Date of SKQdZlH/g for H aq/ Proclu-ction.

In this experiment it was planned to sow duplicate plats on approXi-V
mately the first and fifteenth of each month from April to July’, inclu-
sive. The followring table gives the number of cuttings and yields
‘secured in 1913 and 1914.

.;§%$fi§§ea¥@firawa@_"r"

22 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATIoN.

TABLE 7.

Number of Cuttings and Total Yield of Sudan Hay Secured From Various Dates of Planting
in 1913 and 1914.

‘ _ Total Yield of Hay in
_ Number of Cuttings. Tons per Acre.
Date of Seeding.
1913 1914 1913 1914
April3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 3 3 1.19 5.7

A r1115 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . .. 2 3 .97 5.09

ay 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2 3 1.62 4.7

May 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 * 1.50 . . . . . . . . . . . .

June 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1 * .44 . . . . . . . . . . . .

June 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 .62 3.3

July2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1 2 1.11 3.45

July 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O 2 .00 3.1

*Unfayorable weather conditions prevented seeding on or near these dates.

This experiment has not been continued long enough to warrant the
drawingwf definite conclusions. It may be noticed, however, that in
1914. two cuttings were secured from plantings made as late as July 15.
This was under very favorable moisture conditions of summer and fall,
as seed sown on the same date in 1913 failed to germinate until Sep-
tember. The seedings of April 1 have been affected similarly to plant-
ings of sorghums on this date and are characterized by poor germina-
tion, slow growth and many weeds in the first crop of hay. '

Figure 12. Millet (small bale). Sudan Grass (large bale).
Showing comparative yields of Millet and Sudan ‘Grass at, Chillicothe for a,
period of three years.

llletlzod 07° Plannting.

Row plantings of Sudan grass, 24 and. 40 inches apart, have pro-
duced about the same yield of hay as the close drilled plats, but it is
coarser and not of as good quality. Row plantings produced consider-
ably more seed to the acre than the drilled plats. The seed crop in

PROGRESS Rnronr OF TEXAS Sunsmrrofir No. 12. 23

rows is easily harvested with a row binder, or if not too tall, can be
cut with a grain binder cutting two rows at a time.

BULLET.

Since 1908 variety tests with millet, both in plats and in nursery
rows, have ‘been made. The results of this Work have served to elim-
inate all but a few numbers from the list of valua-blevarieties.

The Proso millets and those belonging t0 the barnyard group have
proved to be of little or no value, being non-resistant. to drouth and
poorly adapted to conditions. ~

Certain numbers of pearl millet have produced heavy crops of forage
in seasonable years, but they do not compete with the sorghums in
yield and quality of forage.

The common or foxtail millets (Setaria Italica) are the only ones

Figure 13; Sudan Grass in 40-inch cultivated rows.
Photograph taken When seed was ripe.
I

that seem to have any promise in this section. In this group» belong
such varieties as Kursk, Goldmine, Hungarian, Turkestan and German.
Kursk is the earliest of these varieties, maturing in 62 days in 1914.
It produces a good yield of seed, but makes such a short growth that
thehay yield is always light.
Goldmine is a fine-stemmed variety with short, compact heads, and

produces fair crops of both hay and seed. It is at least a week later.

than Kursk and grows from six to ten inches taller. It would be
useful for sowing as a catch crop.

Hungarian. Several numbers of this variety have been tested. They
‘are similar to- Goldmine in length of season and height of ‘growth, but
do not yield as much hay.

Turkestan (S. P. I. No. 20,694) has consistently been a high yielder
of a good quality of hay. The chief objection to this variety is its

24 Texas AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION.

lateness, as it requires from 107 to 120 days to mature a crop of seed.
Thus it is sometimes injured more by drouth than the earlier varieties.
There are two strains of S. P. I. No. 20,694, one having white seed and
the other red seed. The red seeded type is later than the White seeded,
but produces a better yield and quality of hay. A newer variety of
Ttirkestan (S. P. I. X0. 29,001) is earlier in maturing than N0. 20,694,
and looks quite promising.

German millet is also late in maturing and coarser, so that the hay
is not as good quality as Turkestan.

Millets have little place in the farming systems of‘ the Southwest
except as catch 'crops. [Tsed in this way they may furnish a valuable
addition to the seasoifs hay crop. Compared with Sudan grass at
Chillicothe, the best varieties of millet have produced about one-third
the amount of hay for the season. They are not as drouth resistant
as Sudan grass, and the hay produced is of poorer quality.

ANXUAL LEGULIES.

lVork with annual legumes was started in 1905, and each year since
a number of varieties of cowpeas, soybeans and other annuals have

i been tested in either plats or nursery row. The object of this work

has been to find varieties adapted to this country and which would
produce the heaviest crops of forage or the largest amount- of growth
for plowing under as green manure crops. In this connection, the
seeding habits of the plants have been studied, as some varieties have
been found which withstand drouth quite well and produce fair crops
of hay, but which seldom form seed. The Dolichos varieties (Dolichos
bi-flormls and DOZliC7L~0$ Zablaib) and moth bean (P/laseolus aconiitifdrius)
belong to this class. The failure to produce seed is considered
quite an objection to the crop since seed would have to be imported
every year for planting.

'.l‘he forage yields of annual legumes have as a rule been rather light,
so that as a hay proposition alone they would hardly be considered
profitable crops. Seed yields have also been low and at the present
demand for seed and the facilities which the average farmer has for
harvesting and threshing, there would be little profit from this source
alone. Xone of the annual legumes have proved to be good money crops
on the kind of soil that has been devoted to this work at the Chillicothe
Station. The more sandy soils in this locality produce much better
crops of cowpeas and peanuts than the Station soil, and by some sys-
tem of cooperative growing and handling, these might be made profitable
market crop-s. But until farmers realize. more fully the importance of
crop rotations and soil improvement by means of leguminous crops.
their production will not be extensive. As a pasture crop furnishing a
highly nutritious feed and for soil improvement and crop rotation pur-
poses, the annual legumes should be given a place in the cropping sys-
tem of every farm. Some farmers plant cowpeas in alternate rows
with corn, and after the corn is harvested turn live stock into the field
to pasture off the corn stalks and cowpeas. The advantages of this

PROGRESS REPORT OF Texas SUBSTATION No. 12. 25

method are: excellent pasture in the fall and soil enriched by the
leguminous crop.

COWPEAS.

The best varieties of cowpeas have been better producers than any
other kind of annual legume tested at the Chillicothe Station. They
have consistently produced higher yields of hay and seed than soybeans,
and furnish a better quality of forage.

A number of the best varieties of cowpeas, together with brief de-
scriptive notes of each, will be given immediately following.

Early Buff.—This is one of the earliest varieties yet tested and is a
fairly heavy seed producer. It has produced some peas when other
varieties failed, because of drouth. The forage yield is light, due to the
small growth of semi-bushy plants. The peas are light buff in color
and are excellent for table use, so are suitable for garden as well as
field production.

Brabham-The Brabham embodies characteristics almost the opposite
of the Early Buff, producing a heavy growth of vine. It has been con-
sistently the heaviest hay yielding variety tested. The vine growth is

- mostly erect, making it easily cut with a mower. It is late in maturing
compared with the Early Bufii, and is alight seed producer. ‘

The Iron cowpea is similar in habit to the Brabham, but has a rather
more spreading habit and is not as heavy a hay yielder.

The Groit, New Era and Red Ripper ‘are all excellent all-round vari-
eties, producing good yields of both forage and seed. The New Era is,
perhaps, a. better drouth resister than any of the others, but under
favorable conditions the Groit has produced the best yields. These
varieties all grow more orless erect, depending upon the amount of

growth produced. The heavy growth makes the habit more procumbent.

The Coffee variety has been one of the heaviest seed producers and
also makes a good growth of vine, but is difficult to harvest because of
its procumbent habit. "

SOYBEANS.

Soybeans are relished more by rabbits than any other kind of legume,
and experiments with this crop have frequently been ruined by the
attacks of these animals. In some years the plants have been eaten
oif almost as soon as they came up, and were kept eaten down during
the season. The crop is of questionable value in this country for the
reason juststated.

In seasons when soybeans have reached maturity they have not been

. equal to cowpeas in either yield or quality of hay. Some of the best

varieties are Chiquita, Mammoth, Cloud and Jet for forage, while the
Haberlandt is a heavy seed producer. It is very dwarf and forms pods
in a large cluster close to the main stem. It would be suitable to plant
and pasture with hogs, allowing them to harvest the seed when ripe.

m~ p v_ V, __._____._,_._..l___,_,.. Tug-qt...

26 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION.

OTHER ANNUAL LEGUME-S.

Many other annual legumes, including moth beans, Mung beans, hya-
cinth beans, tepary beans and chick peas, have been grown for one
season or more. All of these are inferior to cowpeas in either forage
or seed yield. or both, 0r in quality of hay’, and are not considered worth
planting in this locality in preference to cowpeas.

Experiment plantings of peanuts have been made nearly every‘ year
and forage yields, as a rule, have been quite satisfactory. Peanuts C0111-
pare very favorably with cowpeas in this respect. The small Spanish
and Tennessee Red varieties have proved to be the best of a large
number of varieties tested.

ALFALFA.

Experiments with alfalfa have been given a prominent place in the
Station work since its establishment in 1905. Seventeen varieties of
alfalfa were planted June 1, 1905, in plats one rod square. This
alfalfa was harvested for hay during the next three seasons, with
excellent results. Table '7 shows the yields secured from these plats,
calculated in pounds per acre.

TABLE 7.

Hay Yields of Variety Alfalfa Plats at Chillicothe in 1906, 1907 and 1908 Together with the
Average Yield [or the Three Years.

Yield in Pounds per Acre.
p S. P. I. Name. Average.
N0. 1906 1907 | 1908
13440 Kansas, now irrigated . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10080 5280 5280 6880

13521 Algeria . . . . . . . .‘ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9920 7360 8320 8533%

13489 Wyomlng . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9640 5760 6160 71863’;

13542 Provence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9280 . 4160 4960 6133i

13436 Ontario . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8160 4640 6640 6480

13547 Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8160 5120 8240 7173§

13544 France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7680 5920 4960 6186§

13545 France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7680 3840 3760 5093%

13564 Peru. . .  ._ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7680 7360 4640

13439 Kansas (irrigated) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7440 3920 6880 6080

13541 France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7040 4960 3680 5226%

13438 Minnesota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7040 5760 4800 5866%

13520 Germany . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6880 4320 4000 5066%

13486 Utah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6560 5440 4480 5493i

13543 France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6320 4160 1920 4133%

13519 S aln . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6080 4240 5600 5306§

9359 Turkestan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4480 1760 5600 3946§

13745 y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6880 4480 5680

13753 Ital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5440 6640 6040

14972 Ecuador . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3040 6880 4960

13436 Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2720 6080 4400

This table shows Kansas, Wyoming and Algeria varieties» to be eon-
sistently good producers. The cuttings were made as nearly aspos-
sible when the alfalfa was one-third in bloom, and weights were taken
as soon as the hay was cured suffieiently to stack. In 1906 five cuttings
were secured; in 1907, three, and 1908, five. i

In the fall of 1908 these plats were thinned to 18 and 30-inch rows
for the purpose of getting seed yields from this method. The plats
were cultivated in 1909, but owing to the poor season only two light

PROGRESS REPORT or TEXAS SUBSTATION N o. 12. 2’?

crops of hay, and no seed, were secured. In 1910, however, fair seed
yields Were obtained from these plats.

With the relocation of the station in 1911, new plantings of both
row and close drilled methods were made in one-tenth acre plats, using
the six most promising varieties from the previous experiment. On
account of the dry season no stands were secured. Plantings were made
again in September, 1911, which germinated to a stand and started off
Well, but were winter-killed. Plantings made in 1912 were also failures,
so that the two years work was of little value. .

Row and close-drilled plantings were made in the spring and agai
in the fall of 1913, with fair results. This lacing a. very dry season
no cuttings of any importance were secured from the spring plantings.
Fall plantings made an excellent start, but suffered some winter-killing.
The following table gives 1914 yields of plats, comparing rowand
close drilled plantings.

 

TABLE 8.
_  Total Yield for
Method 0f Seeding. l Number of Crops Season in Tons
i in 1914. per Acre.
Close drills (uncultivated) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l 5 2.25
Slose drills (cultivated) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5 - 2.25
Rows 42 inches (cultivated) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5 1 .31

The row plantings are not considered desirable for hay production in
this locality for the following reasons: (1) the yield is much lighter
than from broadcast stands, except in periods of extreme drouth; (2)
if the rows are not cultivated weeds fill up the space between them, and
if cultivated, the loose soil and spreading growth of the plants make
mowing difficult and considerable loose dirt rakes up with the hay.

In 1907 lalantings were made to determine the value of inoculation
of alfalfa. Solutions were used to inoculate seed for two plats, and
soil for two plats, while two others received no inoculation. There was
no noticeable difference in the behavior of the different plats, and
nodules were found on the roots of plants in all plats. One cutting of
hay was secured that season with yields slightly in favor of the seed
inoculated plats. The yrields were as follows:

Seed inoculated (solution) 164.0 pounds per acre.

Soil inoculated (solution) 1490 pounds per acre.

Check plat (not inoculated) 1430 pounds per acre.

The acreage of alfalfa in this part of the country has increased
rapidly during the last ten years. Most of the successful fields, how-
ever, are on land adjacent to rivers, creeks or draws. Under these con-
ditions the crop is very profitable and produces from three to five cut-
tings each year. On upland the seasons are frequently so dry that the
hay yfields of alfalfa are very light. In this case it would be more
profitable to utilize the alfalfa by pasturing, since a large amount of
teed may be grazed oif when the growth is too short to cut for hay.

28 TEXAS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION.

MISCELLANEOUS CROPS.
y .
Vetches.

Thirty-two varieties of vetches wereplanted in the spring of.1906,
but very few of these reached a height of ten inches, and only three or
four put out blooms. Fifty varieties were seeded again in the fall,
along with oats, rye an.d barley. These made a good start, but all either
partly or entirely winter-killed. A plat of hairy vetch sown, with oats
in the fall of 1908, lived through the Winter, but made very little
growth in the spring. ' .

After these trials the vetches were considered to have so little promise
in this section that further plantings have not been made.

Sunflowers.

Mammoth Russian sunflowers have been planted several seasons, and
in 1914 produced a good crop of large, well filled heads. This crop,
however, seems to be subject to the attacks of more insects than any-
thing else planted here. Two years the crop has been completely de-
stroyed by insects that girdled the stems either just below the head,
causing it to fall 01f, or just above the ground, killing the entire plant.

SUM MARY.

(1) The forage crop experiment station at Chillicothe was estab-
lished in 1905, and has been operated since by the United States De-
partment of Agriculture and the 'l‘exas Experiment Station, in co-
operation.

 Limited funds on the part of the Texas Experiment Station
made it necessary for this Station to be operated on rented land until
1914. -

(3) While the Ohillicothe Station has operated under many dif-

ficulties it has accomplished a great deal in the introduction and testing’

out of new forage crops. Feterita, Sudan grass and other new and
valuable sorghums entered this State through this Station, and although
funds have been very limited, the results have been worth many times
the amount expended to the farmers of the State. _

(4) Rainfall records for the ten-year period included in this report
show the mean annual rainfall to be 25.03 inches. May, June, July and
October ordinarily have the heaviest rainfall. The precipitation during
any one year is likely to vary widely from the normal.

(5) The work conducted thus far has been toward determining:

(a) The adaptability of varieties to conditions and their relative
values for the farmers.

(b) The introduction oi new varieties or strains.

(c) The improvement of the most promising varieties. _

(d) Methods and dates of planting productive of highest yields.

(6) Experiments in which different varieties of grain sorghums have
been compared show that the kafirs outyield-the milos in both forage

Paoensss REPORT or TEXAS Suesmrron No. 12. 29

nd grain in favorable seasons, but that in seasons of poor growing
onditions milo and feterita are both more productive than ‘kafir. An
right-year average shows kafir to have produced higher forage yields
han milo, but a lower average yield of grain. It seems to be a fact
hat in order to secure the qualities which are ordinarily termed “drout-h
esistance,” it is necessary to sacrifice something in yield in good seasons.
in other words, the most drouth-resistant varieties of kafir do not
espond to abundant moisture in the same proportion that many of
he common or standard varieties do.

(7) A dwarf selection of feterita, F.- G. I. No. 811, has consistently
aroduced higher yields at Ohillicothe than the original strain, S, P. I.
>10. 19,517. It is earlier, more dwarf and more uniform in height at
ime of ripening. The kaoliang varieties seem to be of little impor-
ance to this section, as the stalk is dry and pithy and the grain yield
rot equal to milo, feterita or kafir. Meal made from kaoliang grain
ias an excellent flavor when used for pancakes, muffins, and so forth.
indthe crop may come to have some special value as human food.

(8) The amber sorghums produce a good quality of hay when sown
moadcast or close drills, and being early maturing varieties, produce
vell under limited moisture conditions. The sumac or red top sorgo,
inder favorable growing conditions, produces much larger yields than
zhe ambers, but unless planted thickly the stems may be somewhat too
roar-se for hay. The honey and the gooseneck sorgos are tall-growing
rarieties suitable for syrup making and for ensilage. The quality of
lay, however, is somewhat inferior to that of amber and sumac.

(9) Rate and date plantings of sorghums have‘ shown, in general,
xhat the grain sorghums produce highest yields of both forage and grain
with a stand of one plant every four to eight inches in the row. Sorgos
aave produced best yields, considering both quality and quantity of
forage, with plants from two to four inches apart in the row. It should
ae borne in mind, however, that the rate of seeding that will give the
highest average yield for a period may frequently be too thick to give
the maximum yield in a given year, and that, therefore, planters should
be cautious in approaching the seeding rates which will give the highest
average yield. . .

(10) Sumac and red amber planted in close drills have shown best
hay yields when seeded at '75 and ~15 pounds to the acre, respectively.

(11) Since sorghum is a subtropical crop, very early plantings are
not recommended. Plantings made from April 15 to May 15 have
given highest grain yields. The highest forage yields have been had
from plantings made from June 15 to July 1.

(12) Sudan grass has produced best hay yields when planted at
15 pounds of seed to the acre in close drills. '

(13) A date of seeding test with Sudan grass, although conducted
for a limited time, indicates that very early planting is not productive
of high yields. Medium early plantings have given the largest number
of cuttings and the largest yields of cured hay. Sudan grass has been
found to produce considerably more seed in cultivated rows than in

30 TEXAS‘ AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION.

drilled plats. Hay yields have been about the same in close drills and
in cultivated rows with a better quality of hay produced in close drills.

Several millets have been grown. While all seem inferior to Sudan
grass for hay purposes, the Turkestan has been found a very high
ytielder and a producer of a good quality of hay. The pearl millet,
Kursk, Golrlrnine, Hungarian and others, are much inferior to Turkestan
for forage purposes.

Of the annual legumes suitable for crop rotation, the cowpea is one
of the best. The Early Buff, the Brabham, Iron, Groit, New Era and
Red Ripper are all excellent. varieties. The New Era and the Early’
Buff are perhaps the best seed producers under limited moisture con-
ditions. Under more favorable conditions the Groit has been found a.
good yielder of both forage and seed. A number of soybeans have been
tested, but little results have been secured owing to depredation of rab-
bits. Some- of the best varieties grown to maturity have been the
Chiquita, Mammoth, Cloud and Jet for forage purposes, while the
H aberlandt has been found a heavy seed producer.

A testiof a number of varieties of alfalfa. have shown Kansas, Wyoming
and Algeria alfalfas good producers. Close drill seedings have shown
better hay yields than seedings in rows 42 inches ‘lap-art.

Inoculation tests conducted in 1907' showed only a slight difference

in vield in favor of inoculation. However, nodules were found on all

plants whether inoculated or not. Artificial inoculation is not recom-
mended here, as undoubtedly the benefits had are very slight and will
be apparent only the first season. _

Some fifty varieties of vetches have been tested and none have been
found suited to this section.

Sunflowers have been planted with a view to determining. the value
of the Qmp for Conditions here. Results have shown this crop subject
to the attack of more insects than any other crop planted on the farm.
lt is not considered profitable here.