132 



FOR BETTER CROPS 



as tall oat grass, but it is slower in taking- a firm hold upon the 

 soil and is correspondingly more enduring. It has been grown 

 with much satisfaction for ha}^ and for seed in Nebraska and 

 Idaho. Peas and vetches require a moist but not a wet soil. It 

 should also be more or less clayey in texture. The conditions 

 suitable for medium red clover are also usually suitable, at least 

 in a fair degree, for growing Canada field peas and common 

 vetches. The cow pea and sand vetch will grow well under con- 

 ditions less favorable to growth, as where the soil is sandy and 

 relatively low in fertility. 



The soils adapted to growing grains for hay are virtually the 

 same as those for growing them for the grain, but with the dif- 

 ference that when grown for hay, grain production is not so im- 

 portant relatively as when grain is the principal object sought, 

 and straw or rather hay production: that is, the production of 



The s^^eep rake 



stem and leaves is relatively more important. Because of this, 

 these crops may be sown on lower soils and richer in vegetable 

 matter than would be suitable for growing them at their best 

 for grain production. 



Sorghum and kaflfir corn may be successfully grown for hay 

 on any kind of soil that will produce Indian corn in good form; 

 that is, they may be successfully grown on any good sandy or clay 

 loam soil where the climate is suitable. In almost every state in 

 the Union the climate is suitable for growing some variety of 

 sorghum into hay, but kaffir corn requires conditions somewhat 

 warmer. The central Mississippi states have highest adaptation 

 to growing such hay. 



Sowing Grasses and Grains for Hay — No matter what the 

 grass or grain may be that is sown, it should always be the aim 

 to sow on soil clean, mellow on and near the surface, moist, and 



