THIRD ANNUAL YEAR HOOK — FART V. 221 



in one direction and half in the opposite direction. In all probability 

 the crop will require cutting back two or three times during the first 

 season in order to destroy the weed growth. This, however, does not 

 seem to injure the alfalfa, but, on the other hand, seems to strengthen 

 it by bringing about greater root development. It seldom happens that 

 a crop can be secured the first year. When once established it is usually 

 possible to obtain from two to four cuttings annually even in times ot 

 drouth, this being due to the fact that the roots penetrate the lower soil 

 and subsoil where there is always a supply of moisture. It must be kept 

 in mind that alfalfa is primarily a hay crop and should seldom, if ever, 

 be used as a pasture. It is true that there is little danger in pasturing 

 hogs and horses, but ruminants are so liable to bloat that the losses gen- 

 erally make the pasture too costly. The hay is exceedingly rich in flesh 

 forming material, and is in itself almost a balanced ration. We have in 

 mind a few farmers living in the state of Kansas who have been suc- 

 cessful in fattening steers on alfalfa hay alone. 



A list of clovers would not be complete unless it included the mam- 

 moth and alsike. These, however, are crops of less importance than 

 those mentioned. The alsike is primarily adapted to lands that are not 

 thoroughly drained. It furnishes a good quality of pasture and hay, 

 but on upland where the drainage is good the yield per acre is not large 

 enough to justify seeding it in any considerable area. However, it has 

 considerable value when sown in mixed pastures. Mammoth clover ma- 

 tures much later than the common red and grows considerably coarser, 

 although it makes a large yield per acre. Under Iowa conditions the red 

 clover will be found to give better satisfaction than the mammoth. 



There are two other legumes that are coming into prominence some- 

 what slowly in the state of Iowa, although there is no question in my 

 mind but what they will finally take a prominent place in our rotations. 

 I refer to the soy bean and cow pea. These crops are drouth resisting 

 in character and produce grain that is exceedingly rich in flesh forming 

 material, the beans containing about the same percentage of protein as 

 our rich concentrated meals. When varieties are developed that are 

 adapted to the conditions of the state it will be found that protein can 

 be grown in this form more cheaply than it can be purchased in the form 

 of our rich meals, and if this can be done there is no reason why farmers 

 of Iowa should not undertake the growing of these crops to be fed in 

 conjunction with corn, which is our best fat-producing food. At the 

 Iowa Experiment Station a yield of thirty bushels per acre of soy beans 

 has been obtained, this being equivalent in feed value, so far as protein 

 is concerned, to 110 bushels of corn. 



A number of methods may be employed in putting in these crops. 

 In Kansas they are usually planted about as far apart in the row as 

 corn, the seed being dropped so that the plants are two or three inches 

 apart in the row. However, my experience has been that on our soil 

 it is practicable to put the rows just half this distance apart. This may 

 be done by adjusting the corn planter to drill, and driving the planter 



