808 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Oct. 2, 1908. 



Hawkesbiiry Agricultural College and 

 Experiment Farm. 



Fekding of Pigs. 



[Contiiuu'(] fioiii page &4-2.] 



H. W. POTTS. 



X. 



Cowpeas. Soy Beans. Velvet Beans. 

 With the exception of luecnic, we arc unable in this climate to grow any 

 permanent leguminous crop as a change of feed for pigs. 



In mixed farming the value of cover crops in re[)lacing the fallow is now- 

 being generally conceded. It is necessary to differentiate from those used as 

 catch crops and for green manuring. 



Cover crops check evaporation, prevent tlie soil l)aking, also the loss of 

 plant-food by excessive rainfall in washing the soil or leaching, and they 

 afFoi-d green, succulent food for stock. 



Plants belonging to two groups are available for tin's purpose. The first 

 are those known as the legumes, which possess the specific function of assimi- 

 lating or storing nitrogen in the soil. They include clovers, cowpeas, Canada 

 field peas, vetches, soy beans, velvet beans, lupins, and Beggar weed {Desmo- 

 dium tortnoswn). The second group are non-leguminous and embrace rye, 

 wheat, barley, oats, Inick-wheat, rape, and mustai-d. 



The cowpea is looked upon as the most useful. It forms a succulent, 

 relishable, nutritious forage for sheep, cattle, and pigs, during the hot summer 

 months. At that period all other palatable fodders of high protein content 

 are not available and the natural grasses and herbage are dry. 



Cowpeas as a drought-resisting fodder stand uiu'ivalled. They have been 

 used in India and other notoriously dry countries for centuries. 



They liav'e acclimatised well here. The roots of the plant, like that of 

 lucerne, penetrate deeply into the subsoils, in a vigorous fashion searching for 

 plant-food and moisture, and at the same time opening up the subsoils and 

 rendering them porous and available for the storage of moisture and air. The 

 roots attack the stores of phosphoric acid and potash, dissolving them for their 

 own use as well as for sub.sequent crops. 



The characteristic nodules of legumes are found fi-eely distributed along the 

 roots, and in these the bacteria are engaged in assimilating atmospheric 

 nitrogen and promoting nitriKcation ; inert plant-food is made soluble and a 

 source of root nourishment. 



The roots and stubble are ploughed in with the excreta from the grazing 

 animal. It is approximately estimated that the formei' alone give to each 

 acre 24 lb. nitrogen, mostly gathered from the air, and return C; 11). 

 phosphoric acid, and 1 5 lb. potash, largely drawn from the subsoil, and in a 



