LHOUMINOl'S CHOPS. ■"'•>'.' 



specially for seed. If the latter method is adopted the beans may be planted 

 in rows ;U or 4 feet ^apart, and 15 to 18 inches apart. This will require 12 

 to 15 lb. seed per acre. The average yield of seed is about 1,000 to 1,500 lb. 

 per acre. The weight of unthivshcd s.t.U in the \n«\ will be about double 

 this. 



For feeding puri >"-<■- the seed need not be threshed from the pods, the 

 usual method of feeding being to use pods and all, either soaked for twenty 

 four hours or crushed into velvet bean feed or meal. 



Velvet Bean Meal. 



It seems possible that for the average farm the soaked pods will be the 

 best form in which To make use of the high feeding value of the seed at the 

 least expense. Considering the fact that large quantities of bran are bought 

 to supply protein at present by North Coast dairymen (particularly in the 

 far North Coast — the big scrub country), the composition of velvet b 

 meal and the results obtained from its use in America and other countries 

 should be of interest. 



The following comparison with wheat bran is given : — - 



It will be seen that the chemical composition of velvet bean meal resembles 

 that of wheat bran. It is slightly higher in protein, but contains a little 

 more fibre. 



As the result of feeding experiments at the Massachusetts Agricultural 

 College, where digestion studies were also made, velvet bean feed was found 

 to contain about 130 lb., or 11- 5 per cent, more digestible nutrients per ton 

 than wheat bran, and in two feeding experiments cows receiving a velvet 

 bean ration produced an average of 5 per cent, more milk than on a wheat 

 bran ration. 



At the present time some tests are being conducted at Wollongbar Experi- 

 ment Farm as to its feeding value compared with wheat bran under our 

 conditions, and the results of these will be awaited w T ith interest. The yields 

 obtained per acre and the cost of harvesting will determine whether it is 

 more profitable to feed a home-grown concentrate like velvet bean meal I or 

 soaked beans) than to purchase wheat bran. 



Value for Soil Improvement. 



The value of the velvet bean for soil improvement also must not be over- 

 looked. The increase in the nitrogen and humus content of the soil is 

 reflected in better yields in the various crops. In America an increase of 12 

 bushels of maize per acre is recorded after velvet beans, while up to 20 

 bushels increase per acre has been made in Ehodesia after green manuring 

 with velvet beans. Appreciable increases in the yield of the subsequent 

 crops should also follow after velvet beans are utilised for winter grazing. 

 Velvet beans are also suitable for sowing with maize for ensilage. 



The Chinese variety is the best of those tried up to the present in this 

 State. 



