112 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 



ready for our bread. Such a man may find cause for meditation. 

 Dean Davenport said recently that "Agriculture has national and 

 international relationships, but they must be handled in the interests 

 of public welfare, and not of selfish class interest." That is sound 

 and fundamental logic. When we reflect that a large part of the 

 world is starving and freezing, the talk of limiting production sounds 

 like false economy. 



Likewise, the new crop which does not find justification in one 

 or more of about three words is not likely to prove profitable to its 

 grower. Those three words are : Economy, Feed, Fertility. 



If by introducing a new crop we may effect a saving, directly or 

 indirectly, of cash outlay or labor, providing there is need for the 

 product, there is justification. If in addition to economy the new 

 crop furnishes not less but more food and raiment to society, at less 

 cost, and at the same time increases the fertility and productivity of 

 our soils, so that future generations may be fed and clothed, then 

 indeed there is justification. We need look in but one group of plants 

 for such crops the legumes. 



NEW CROPS AMONG THE LEGUMES 



Among legumes we find three; a perennial, a biennial, and an 

 annual, all of which are yet new to most Illinois farmers. The first 

 is alfalfa, a great hay crop, which, however, lends itself but poorly 

 to most rotation schemes and which, because of its conflicting harvest 

 season and heavy yields, does not lend itself well in large acreages 

 to the economical distribution of labor in the corn belt. In spite 

 of these drawbacks and the plant's exacting requirements, alfalfa is 

 too good and beautiful a thing to be ignored. Most of us could grow 

 it in many of the irregular small lots and patches about the premises, 

 which are too often waste places and eyesores. Many can use much 

 more, but let us all use at least this much. 



The second plant is the biennial sweet clover, a wonderful pas- 

 ture plant and soil enricher. Not quite so exacting as alfalfa, it 

 works better into rotations. Its carrying capacity is so great that 

 truly it may be said that two animals may graze where but one ate 

 before. The seed is cheap, and there is but one exacting require- 

 ment limestone. Whether pastured by live stock or fed to the 

 succeeding cereal crop, this plant is sure to enrich the soil, society, 

 and the farmer. 



The third plant, the annual soybean, is destined to become a 

 great grain crop as well as a wonderful forage plant. Just at present 



