12S 



FOR BETTER CROPS 



furnished than by growing legumes, and more especially in the 

 form of hay. 



But the great service that legumes render to the soil furnishes 

 an important reason for growing them freely. Red clover grown 

 on soil will furnish a crop of hay and also of seed in one season, 

 and will leave the ground richer in nitrogen than when the 

 crop was sown. Peas, vetches, cow peas, and soy beans may be 

 allowed to mature and the vines and seed may both be removed 

 and yet the land will be richer in nitrogen than it was previously. 

 Should alfalfa, clovers, and the other legumes mentioned be fed 

 on the land, it will be apparent that the process will exert a 

 favorable influence in building up the soil. Of course, when 

 these crops are sold, it may be necessary to supply the soil with 

 additional phosphoric acid and potash. 



The hay- rake 



Climatic Adaptation for Legumes — While legumes of one 

 species or another may be grown in all the states of the Union, 

 these differ greatly in their adaptation to the climatic conditions. 



Alfalfa has more general adaptation than any other legume 

 grown on this continent. It can be grown with more or less 

 success in portions of every state in the Union where the soil 

 conditions are right. Although, by far, the most abundant 

 yields are obtained from it when grown under irrigation, never- 

 theless it is well adapted to areas that have but little humidity. 

 It may be grown on suitable soils where the rainfall is not less 

 than 10 inches per annum, and where the precipitation averages 15 

 inches, good crops may be grown. Without any irrigation, these 

 should yield on an average not much less than two tons per acre 

 per year. This means that alfalfa will be the principal hay 

 crop through all time for all the region west of the Mississippi 

 river, and east of the Cascade mountains. 



