264 USE OF THE LEGUMINOS^ FROM 



a permanent covering, such as is obtained from the Lima 

 bean, if the benellt from such covering is attained in a 

 shorter period." 



In 1898-99, M. Boname laid still further stress on this 

 point : " The Lima bean is a most valuable plant for 

 restoring the fertilit\' of worn-out soils ; but although the 

 improvement in the soil is in relationship with the duration 

 of the covering, it is not always economical to retain it for 

 a number of vears, and there comes a moment when the 

 improvement produced is no longer in agreement with the 

 loss represented bv unproductive land." 



One can onlv then advise, in fields needing green dress- 

 ing, the cultivation of a leguminous plant for a period not 

 exceeding a few months, i.e., after the preparation of the 

 land and before the planting of the main crop. In this way 

 the fields would onlv remain unproductive for nine months 

 instead of a year or a year and a half. Or the legume might 

 be planted at the same time as the main crop (in alternate 

 rows), this latter method being the one followed ever since 

 the pea-nut became a marketable crop. 



In fields where Leguminos^e are being grown, either for 

 green manure or as fodder for live stock, a light manuring 

 will be of great service. When the amounts of lime, potash, 

 phosphoric acid, and magnesia acquired by our Legu- 

 minos^e in a period of four to six months are compared 

 with those abstracted by a crop of canes of fifteen to eighteen 

 months' standing, it becomes evident that the former have 

 the larger appetites, and we can easily understand the 

 reason for manuring soils w^hich are to be planted with 

 Leguminos^e. 



When the crop is only intended for green manure there 

 is no withdrawal of mineral matters; in fact, on ploughing 

 the crop under, the soil is enriched by a considerable sum 

 of organic matters. 



The following table gives an idea of the contribution 

 of organic matter per hectare, sums which, averaging the 



