Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-07-27
Gn.se. for Oklahoma.

The director OF the Oklahoma Ex-
pertinent Station says:
The experiment station receives
more Inquiries from Oklahoma farm
ers concerning grasses or elovers than
on any other one subject. Aside from
our native grasses there Is no true
srass well adapted for pasture or hay
or both which with our present knowl-
edge and experience we can recon-
mend with confidence for cultivation
over the territory generally. and the
same Is true OF the cloyers proper. Ex-
perlments In Kansas and Texas have
great value In helping Us TO form con-
clus!ons. Over much OF these great
states no one OF the cultivated grasses
proper has been found to thrive. Al
the experiment station at saltwater
fair success has been obtained on sons
trials with timothy and with blue
grass. but other trials have proved
failures. Orchard grass has done well
In growth. but n full stand has not
yet been secured in any trial. Poor
success has resulted from repeated
trials OF Bromus inermus and English
Feseue. grasses which have been rec
commended for this region. Bermuda
grass grows readily and spreads rapid
~ In many parts OF Oklahoma. and.
with some marked Objectionable quail
i;!cs. It is coming into favor both as
lawn and pasture grass. johnson srass
makes a vigorous growth. II In .
coarse grass. and the difficulty OF Grad
!sa;!n. II Is such that many farmers
are strongly opposed to its use.
As yet the safest advice that can be
given Is To leave much OF the rough
or stony land or any otherwise uadc-
s!Eablc for cultivation in the native
grasses. The station las also had sue
cess with rcd. alslkc and white clover
In some cases. The las; does best. but
i;s smaller Alrc and light yield units
y, for sowing alone. Alfalfa Is by far
the inoai successful and valuable hay
and pasture plant introduced into the
territory. With good preparation o:
the soil it thriyes well over nearly all
the eastern half OF tho territory n;
least II ID not adapted to lands sub
ice, TO overflow o. those with impcrvl.
Gus subsoii or wha, are called aikail
lands: neither does Il do we'll on very
randy land. For hogs Il Ia aimos; n
perfect pasture. There Is some danger
In pas;ur!ng cattle or sheep on Il. but
IL makes excellent hay. Il usually
gives large yield and It's value Is
much increased by the fact ;hs; when
cnec established IL may be relied upon
for series OF years.
As n partial substitute for the ordi-
nary grass. Kanr corn and sorghum
are increasingly grown. chiefly foT
hay or fodder. bu, with the Increasing
use OF these crops for paS;urasc. Many
northern farmers do not take kindly
to the cultivation of COW peas. This
crop has value al a substitute for
ciovcrs. and It's rapid growth and
large yield of fairly paiatabie and nu-
;ri,ive food. as we'll as Its great value
as a manuring crop. entities IL to in
creased attention. Soy or Sofa bean
has many of the same characteristics.
but in trials at the station has no;
given nearly SO large yield. This
Is better adapted for northern than
the southern parts o. the territory.
The experiment station Is experiment
ing with large number of varieties
OF grasses and has not abandoned hope
that some may be found which can be
recommended with some confidence
for general cultivation in the terri
tory.