FORAGE CROPS 



101 



these produce pods which contain the seed. In planting the seed 

 should be drilled so that the drill rows will be thirty to thirty-six 

 inches apart. The amount of seed sown varies from a peck to 

 one third of a bushel per acre. In harvesting the seed the work 

 may be done by hand, but this is slow and expensive. When 

 large crops are raised, the bean harvester is generally used. 



The harvester, which is mounted on wheels, is fitted with rods on 

 rolling dividers so that the vines are gathered two rows at a time 

 and brought together at the rear end of the machine in a windrow, 

 the plants being almost entirely free from roots and dust. The 

 roots are severed by two knives which are set in a V-shaped posi- 

 tion, and adjusted by levers in such a manner that they can be set 

 to run just below the surface. In harvesting the crop these knives 

 not only sever the plant from the root, but in passing beneath 

 the surface they also stir the soil and leave it in an excellent 

 condition for wheat. Planting the beans in rows thirty to thirty- 

 six inches apart facilitates harvesting where one of these machines 

 is used. 



Soy beans may be frequently sown after other crops have ma- 

 tured and a fair yield be obtained. In Oklahoma and in a few other 

 States it has been grown successfully on the same ground after the 

 wheat crop has been removed. 



A study of the following table taken from Bulletin No. 74 of the 

 Oklahoma Experiment Station will be of interest: 



" TABLE I. THE COMPOSITION OF COWPEAS AND SOY BEANS IN 

 COMPARISON WITH OTHER FEEDS 



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UNIVERSITY 



