141 



Velvet Bean Stubble and Vines as Fertilizers for 



Corn in 1901. 



The fertilizing effect of velvet liean stubble, of velvet 

 bean vines, and of velvet bean vines in connection with 

 acid phosphate, was tested in 1901 on four plots of very 

 IX)or, deep white sandy soil. On one plot the proced- 

 ing crop had been corn. On the other three plots drilled 

 velvet beans planted June 13, after the harvesting of 

 the oat crop, had made only a moderate growth in 1900. 

 On one of these plots the velvet bean vines were cut 

 September 10, 1900, yielding 3,632 pounds of hay per 

 acre. 



On the other two plots the vines were left on the land 

 all winter. In the latter part of the winter all four 

 plots were plowed, a disc harrow having first been run 

 over the field while the vines were frozen in order to 

 cut them and thus render it easier to plow them in. 



The corn on three of the plots was fertilized with 100 

 pounds of acid phosphate per acre, but this fertilizer 

 was omitted on one of the plots where velvet bean vines 

 had been plowed in. 



Yield of corn in 1901 following corn, velvet hean stuh- 



hle, or velvet hean vines. 



Bus. 



Phosphate (but no legume), as fertilizer 13.58 



Velvet bean stubble and phosphate as fertilizer . . 17 . 93 

 Velvet bean vines and phosphate as fertilizer ... 25 . 90 

 Velvet bean vines (no phosphate), as fertilizer. . 21.48 

 The increased yield per acre, as compared ^ith the 

 yield on the plot on which the previous crop had been 

 corn, was 4.35 bushels, or 32 per cent., T\ith velvet bean 

 stubble, and 12.32 bushels, or 81 per cent., with velvei 

 bean vines. 



