40 MISC. PUBLICATION 194, CJ. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



VELVETBEANS 



Velvetbeans are legumes which at one time occupied several million 

 acres in the Cotton Belt and are still being grown on many southern 

 farms, almost invariably as a companion crop with corn. This is 

 due to the fact that the most productive varieties are vining types 

 which require an upright support of some kind to keep the pod 

 clusters off the ground. While very resistant to fungus and insect 

 attacks, the pods and beans often become moldy if they are in con- 

 stant contact with damp soil. The beans are usually seeded in 

 alternate rows with corn, the corn rows being from 4 to 6 feet apart, 

 according to the productivity of the land. Some prefer to seed the 

 beans in the same row with the corn, thus having the corn rows the 

 customary distance apart. Bush types of velvetbeans are being 

 developed which will not require support and may be grown without 

 a companion crop. At present the vining types are more dependable 

 and better yielders than the bush type. 



The grazing value of the velvetbean is confihed largely to the 

 mature beans, which are grazed off by cattle or hogs after the corn 

 crop has been harvested. Both the corn and the beans may be 

 "hogged off" and thus the labor of gathering the corn avoided. 

 Velvetbeans are of no importance except iri region 2. 



The principal value of peanuts as pasturage is for hogs, because 

 they will root out the peanuts, which grow undergrouind. While 

 hogs make rapid and generally cheaper gains on peanuts, where they 

 grow well, than on other feeds, the fat is so soft and oily that hogs so 

 fed sell at a considerable discount. Peanuts should not be grazed 

 until they are nearly mature because the trampling reduces the yield. 

 As there is more foliage than hogs will use to advantage, part of it 

 should be grazed by other hvestock or cut for hay before the hogs 

 are turned in. As the peanuts will spoil or sprout if they are left too 

 long in moist ground, they should be grazed within 1 to 3 months 

 after they mature, depending upon the variety, the water-holding 

 capacity of the soil, and the climate. Good yields vary from 30 to 

 40 bushels per acre. With the foliage, 10 to 12 bushels should make 

 100 pounds of gain on thrifty shotes. 



In order to obtain carcasses of satisfactory firmness from hogs fed 

 or pastured on peanuts it is necessary subsequently to make them 

 gain about tliree times as much on a ration such as 7 parts of corn 

 and 1 part of cottonseed meal as they have gained on peanuts. 



Vetches {Vicia spp) of numerous varieties and species are grown 

 principally as green manure for soil improvement purposes, but in 

 case of need they may be grazed in the early spring with good results. 

 Their use as a grazing crop is confined chiefly to region 2 and section 

 5-a, and the kinds best suited to this purpose in region 2 are hairy 

 vetch and smooth vetch (F. villosa), wooly pod vetch (T^ dasycarpa), 

 and Monantha vetch (V. monantha). These and in addition purple 

 vetch {V. atropurpurea) and common vetch (V. sativa), are grown 

 successfully in section 5-a. When intended for hay or grazing, vetch 

 is usually sown at the rate of 30 to 40 pounds per acre from September 



