LEGUMES 221 



QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS 



1. Discuss the process by which legumes get their nitrogen and by 

 which they add nitrogen to the soil. 



2. What are the best ways to secure proper inoculation of the soil 

 when legume crops are to be grown ? 



3. Why is the nitrogen-gathering action of legumes regarded as of 

 great importance ? 



4. In what ways is red clover of importance in the United States? 



5. Estimate the number of acres of clover as compared with corn in 

 your community. 



6. What is the best procedure to secure a satisfactory stand of red 

 clover ? 



7. When and how should clover hay be made? 



8. What conditions especially favor the production of seed in red 

 clover ? 



9. Farmers have grown clover and alfalfa for a very long time, but 

 tubercle bacteria were discovered only recently. How did farmers discover 

 the value of clover and alfalfa crops ? 



10. What soils are best suited to the growing of alfalfa? 



11. Why are manure and lime required to obtain the best results in 

 growing alfalfa? 



12. How should the seed bed be prepared for sowing alfalfa? 



13. How may alfalfa best be used in crop rotations? 



14. When should alfalfa be cut for hay, and how should it be cured? 



15. How is alfalfa cut when it is to be used for a seed crop? 



16. A farmer purchased a cheap grade of red-clover seed, paying $9.50 

 per hundred pounds for it. The best grade of seed was priced at $12.50 

 per hundred pounds. An investigation showed that the seed purchased 

 contained 64 per cent live red-clover seed, 8 per cent dead and broken 

 red-clover seed, and 28 per cent weed seed and dirt. At what rate per 

 hundred pounds did he really pay for live clover seed? What results in 

 his clover crop would he probably secure by sowing the low-grade seed as 

 purchased ? 



17. What are the uses of sweet clover? 



18. Of what value is Japan clover ? Where does it thrive? 



19. Name some of the advantages secured by growing cowpeas. 



20. What are the leading kinds of cowpeas? 



21. What are the limiting factors in producing cowpeas? 



