LEGUMIXOl's CROPS. 567 



As Hay or Fodder Crop. 



It is as an emegency hay crop that soybeans are destined to fill a place 

 in our tableland agriculture. 



The chief qualities possessed by this crop which make it well worth con- 

 sideration in the tableland districts are: — 



I. The high feeding-value of tbe hay (nearly equal to lucerne hay and 

 superior to clover hay). 



•2. The yield of hay obtainable in a short season of growth (1£ to 2 tons 

 per acre being a fair average). 



3. The distinct soil-improvement value of the crop when included in a 



system of crop rotation. 



4. Its ability to make better growth on acid soils where clover fails. 



5. Its emergency value in the utilisation of land ; soybeans can be sown 



for hay after the best time for sowing clover or oats has passed. 



The highest feeding value and the greatest palatability occur in soybeans 

 just as the pods are forming, but when the pods are full grown nearly double 

 the yield of fodder is obtained. The best time to cut for hay is when the 

 seeds are about half developed. Some varieties have more persistent leaves 

 than others, but in most varieties the leaves are usually shed completely 

 when about half the pods are ripe, or a little later. 



For seed, the crop should be cut when about three-fourths of the pods are 

 ripe. If left later than this a quantity of the seed may be lost by shattering. 



The ordinary mower can be used for harvesting the hay and also for seed, 

 though it is also possible in many cases to use the grain binder for the latter 

 purpose. Threshing can be done with the ordinary grain thresher by making 

 a few adjustments to avoid cracking the seed. 



When soybeans are to be used for hogging-down or as a grain crop for 

 use on the farm, they may either be sown alone or with maize. When sown 

 alone an average yield of 15 to 20 bushels per acre may be expected. Yields 

 have been recorded in America of up to 35 bushels per acre. Hogging-down 

 maize is not practised here to anything like the extent that is done in 

 America, but on the upper reaches of some coastal rivers where it is in vogue 

 the planting of soybeans with maize would make the feeding value of the 

 combined crops much greater than the maize alone. Planting soybeans in 

 the same rows as the maize will not generally reduce the yield of maize 

 appreciably, and any reduction may be expected to be more than made up 

 for by the yield of soybeans. Alternate rows of maize and soybeans 'decrease 

 the yield of maize still further, but counterbalance this by the increased 

 yield of soybeans. 



For many parts of the coast where pig-raising is conducted small areas 

 of soybeans alone of the most suitable varieties are recommended for trial 

 as a concentrated grain food (combined with the fodder for hogging-down) 

 of extremely high feeding value, being exceptionally high in protein and fat. 

 As a combination crop with maize for silage, soybeans are also becoming 

 largely grown in America. 



