NEW CROPS 119 



over 13,000 pounds of material (including roots) containing 92.7 

 pounds of nitrogen. At the same station wheat after soys has yielded 

 5.5 bushels more per acre than wheat after corn. Should we not 

 know what the cumulative effects of these legumes is to be on 

 fertility ? 



Until we have answers to such questions as we have asked and 

 many others equally important, Illinois agriculture will probably 

 proceed rather cautiously in introducing alfalfa, sweet clover, and 

 soybeans into its scheme of management, and justly so. Yet how 

 badly we need legumes and how much economy to agriculture and 

 to the nation might result from their introduction ! 



THE SOLUTION OF THESE PROBLEMS BY THE EXPERIMENT 



STATION 



In the introduction of these new crops into Illinois agriculture, 

 our Experiment Station must be largely influential. Individually, the 

 farmer cannot afford to do much experimenting, particularly at the 

 present time. But a great deal may be done collectively, and there 

 has hardly been a time when we needed to have so much experimenting 

 done for us. In so far as our inquiries are in the interest of public 

 welfare we have a right to ask the consuming public to help us solve 

 our problems by helping to support our College and Experiment Sta- 

 tion. It is the duty of the public to help to provide research workers 

 who may in any way help to reduce the cost of living. This the 

 Experiment Station may do by investigating problems relating to the 

 growing and the use of such new crops as we have mentioned. It is 

 only after disinterested scientific investigation by trained workers that 

 the farmer can afford to venture far into untried enterprises. 



Let us all then, whether we be producers, consumers, experi- 

 mentalists, or economists, interest and concern ourselves that such 

 new or little used crops as alfalfa, sweet clover, and soybeans be 

 thoroly investigated, and see to it that the knowledge gained 

 be disseminated to farmers; to the end that farm production be 

 economically increased, thereby adding to the farmer's profit and at 

 the same time lightening the consumer's burden of cost. Let us 

 not forget, in contemplating the benefit to us individually, the thou- 

 sands of hungry mouths and cold bodies in foreign fields. Above all, 

 let us remember the succeeding generations of Americans and our 

 responsibility for their welfare. Consideration for our children and 

 their children's children should scarcely be second to the instinct for 

 self preservation. 



