3 



While in the District of Columbia, and in the South generally, it is possible 

 to g-row three or even four crops of soy beans in a season ; in Ontario only one 

 crop can be grown from May to September. From the table it may be gathered 

 that the Medium Green soy bean produces the largest yield of straw as well as 

 the largest amount of grain. 



Three varieties of Millets were tested with the following results : 



Millets. 



Variety. 



Japanese Panicle --. 

 Japanese Barnyard. 

 Hungarian Grass. . . 



Estimated 

 value. 



Two years. 

 100 

 73 

 63 



Tons per acre of green hay. 



Five tests. 

 4.4 

 3.7 

 4.0 



Thirty tests. 

 6.4 

 5.9 



4.« 



Japanese panicle heads the list with 6.4 tons per acre of green hay. 



CRIMSON CLOVER. 



The immense value of the use of Crimson Clover as a cover crop was exempli- 

 fied by Mr. Ghent of New York State. 



By delay in tilling the soil in early spring a loss of about 200 tons of water per 

 acre takes place in a single week, while it has been estimated that an acre of 

 meadow grass eliminates from the soil 106 tons of w^ater per acre in twenty-four 

 hours in the month of Jiine. 



The soil may be greatly aided in the conservation of moisture by the aid of a 

 cover crop. There are many leguminous crops which may be used for this pur- 

 pose but Crimson Clover has been found especially valuable in the North. Till 

 very early in the season and continue doing so until the crops are mature, then 

 save the moisture by the use of a cover crop. Crimson Clover is an annual, 

 grows rapidly, and being a legume the growing of it enriches instead of impov- 

 erishes the soil. The following table indicates the value of tillage with the use 

 of Crimson Clover : 



Tillage vnth and without crimson clover. 



Water. 



Nitrogen. 



Humus - 



Available phosphoric acid 



With three 

 crops of clover. 



Per cent. 

 15.00 

 .21 

 3.94 

 .015 



Without 

 clover. 



Per cent. 

 8.75 



.13 

 1.91 



.008 



The above shows the great difference in composition of a soil which has had 

 three crops of clover grown upon it and one which has had the same amount of 

 tillage but where no clover has been used. When such results can be obtained 

 the necessity of artificial fertilizers may well be questioned. 



P. Beyeridge Kennedy, Ph. D., 



Assistant in Division of Agrostology. 

 Approved : 



James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



Washington, D. C, December 15, 1899. 



