NINETEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART IX 507 



Trials with soybeans at this station as soiling have been made in two 

 seasons with but fair success. In the first year in which they were used 

 part were drilled in rows SVz feet apart at the rate of 25 pounds per acre 

 and cultivated, while part were drilled in rows 1 foot 9 inches apart at the 

 rate of 50 pounds per acre and left uncultivated. The yields obtained were 

 respectively 3 tons and 6 tons of green feed per acre and the respective 

 costs per tons were $4.60 and $2.70 which was decidedly in favor of the 

 plot heavily seeded without subsequent cultivation. The date of seeding 

 was June 1 and of harvesting August 25 to 30. 



In the second trial they were drilled on June 21 at the rate of 45 

 pounds per acre and were harvested August 24 to 31, when a yield of 5i/^ 

 tons of green feed per acre was obtained at a cost of $3.00 per ton. 



As a feed soybeans were satisfactory as the initial unpalatability soon 

 disappeared and cows would consume about 70 pounds of them per day. 

 There were drawbacks to their general use. The most profitable yields were 

 obtained when they were closely sown and uncultivated, but this, along with 

 their lack of height led to a heavy growth of weeds — a condition that is not 

 at all desirable. In addition they are difficult to cut and collect without 

 becoming mixed with a large amount of soil and this is disagreeable espe- 

 cially in wet weather and may even induce digestive disturbances among 

 the cows. 



LEGUMINOUS SOILING CROPS UNSUITED TO IOWA. 



In addition to the crops already mentioned a large number of other 

 legumes have at times been proposed for soiling purposes. Some of these 

 which are not suited to Iowa conditions are mammoth red and crimson 

 clovers, sainfoin, flat peas, and the common and hairy vetches. 



NON-LEGUMINOUS CROPS. 

 The non-leguminous forage crops provide an even greater variety of 

 soilage than do the leguminous. Under the majority of conditions they 

 will produce larger and more economical yields of green feed than do the 

 legumes though they do not provide as much protein or ash. Like the 

 legumes these crops vary widely in palatability and in the ease of har- 

 vesting. Some of them are essential to a complete system of soiling in 

 this latitude. 



DENT CORN. 



This is used as soiling to some extent in this locality as it returns rather 

 a large yield and is quite palatable. It is, however, rather difficult to handle 

 and feed, and is not cleaned up very well by the cows. In this locality 

 green corn can not be safely fed until rather late in the summer, from 

 which time it may be fed until ready to cut for silage. It should be borne 

 in mind that by feeding green corn the cow is not given much of a variety 

 as compared to her winter ration. 



Part of the corn crop was used for soiling on several occasions in the 

 latter part of the season. Yields of 9 to 12 tons of green feed per acre were 

 obtained at an average production cost of $2.70 per ton. It gave good and 

 economical yields and was palatable and successful as a feed. 



