SOME FORAGE PLANTS 175 



does a crop of cowpeas. About the latter part of 



April, the richest kind of hay can be made from it. This 



will take the place of part of the corn that so many 



farmers buy for their teams. 



As soon as the hay is cut, 



corn or sorghum or sweet 



potatoes or other late crop 



may be planted to fatten on 



the nitrogen which the clover 



roots and stubble have added 



to the soil. 



Crimson clover is very easy 

 to grow. Land that has just 

 grown cotton does not even 

 have to be plowed. A little 

 more than a peck of seed per FlG - "6. -HAIRY VETCH 



acre may be sown broadcast in the cotton in September 

 and covered by passing a one-horse cultivator between 

 each pair of rows. It is easy to fail with crimson clover 

 if the land is not inoculated. To inoculate land for crim- 

 son clover, sow with the seed soil from a field where 

 crimson clover, red clover, low white clover, or other true 

 clover has grown. 



Vetches. These plants (Figs. 115, 116) have slender 

 stems or branches, too weak to stand alone. Hence they 

 need to be sown with oats or wheat, so that the weak vines 

 may climb up the grain plants and be high enough for 

 mowing in May. Vetches are useful for hay, for pasturage, 

 and for enriching the soil. Hairy vetch is the most popular 

 kind. The seed should be sown broadcast about Septem- 



