198 Effective Farming 



6. Often an application of lime is an aid in getting a good stand of 

 red clover or alfalfa. Why is this ? 



7. Why are weed seeds more often found in red clover seed than in 

 grass seed? 



8. Describe the alsike clover plant and compare with red clover. 



9. Why is white clover so well adapted for lawns and pastures? 



10. Describe the alfalfa plant. 



11. Give some of the qualities of alfalfa that make it a valuable 

 forage plant. 



12. What are the usual ways of planting cowpeas ? 



13. Describe the method of planting peanuts. 



14. How are peanuts harvested? 



15. List and describe the legumes cultivated in your section of the 

 country. 



EXERCISES 



1. Roots of legumes. Dig up roots of several different kinds of 

 legumes, wash carefully, and examine for tubercules. Are they all of 

 the same size? Describe the root system of legumes and compare it 

 with that of grasses. 



2. Testing legume seeds for germination. Secure seeds of differ- 

 ent kinds of legumes and test them for the percentage of germination 

 as directed for grasses. 



3. Purity of legume seeds. Small seeds like those of alfalfa and 

 red clover often contain many weed seeds. Examine samples care- 

 fully as directed for grasses. Learn to identify the common weed seeds 

 usually found with the legume seeds. 



4. Experiment with red clover. In the red-clover region a very 

 interesting and instructive experiment can be made by pupils to de- 

 termine the advantage of liming the soil, especially if the soil is inclined 

 to be acid. Lay off two plots of a square rod each in the school yard 

 or on a near-by farm. Prepare the soil for planting by spading and 

 raking it well. On one plot spread twenty-five pounds of ground 

 limestone (how much is this an acre?). Leave the other plot untreated. 

 Sow red clover seed on both plots and observe the results. Often but 

 little difference will be seen until the second year. 



5. Experiment with alfalfa. In the East and South where alfalfa 

 is not particularly well adapted to conditions, a plot experiment carried 

 out as here directed will be a good indication of whether or not this 

 crop can be grown profitably and how the land should be treated. Ar- 

 range four rod-square plots and prepare the soil carefully for planting 

 as directed for red clover. To plot 1 apply twenty-five pounds of 



