no PRINCIPLES OF FARM PRACTICE 



adaptation to climate, special soil requirements, methods of 

 seeding, handling, etc. 



.The following list includes the most important legumes; 

 clovers (including red, mammoth, white, alsike, crimson, and 

 sweet), alfalfa, cowpeas, soy beans, vetch, Japan clover, 

 peanuts, velvet beans. 



Selection of a legume. As has already been suggested the 

 choice of a particular legume for a farm depends upon several 

 factors. In general, the most important are climate, soil, 

 and the system of farming to be used. 



Climate. Usually it will be a safe practice to use the 

 legumes that are commonly grown in a region. For example, 

 in the Corn Belt red clover is generally grown, and this 

 legume would be a wise selection for that region. 



Soil. The soil should be well drained and furnished with 

 plenty of lime. These are the two chief requirements of all 

 legumes. Of course a rich, deep soil will produce a much 

 greater yield than a shallow, poor soil. 



Some legumes are less sensitive to soil conditions than 

 others. For example, mammoth clover will often make a 

 good yield on soils too poor for red clover. Alsike clover 

 will grow on rather poorly drained soils. Sweet clover will 

 generally grow on soils where other legumes fail. Cowpeas 

 are adapted to a wide range of soils. 



System of farming. In the chapter on Crop Production, 

 emphasis was placed upon the need of using legumes as a 

 means of keeping up soil fertility. They are also needed 

 for feed. The kind of legume raised is not so important 

 as that a rotation should be established by which each 

 cultivated area of the farm may become periodically enriched 

 by legumes. The system of farming should cover both these 

 purposes. 



