542 FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



Lespedeza may be left between each swath for re- 

 seeding. 



If harvested for seed, enough will shatter to produce a 

 good stand the next year. 



Lespedeza is nearly always a spontaneous constituent 

 of Bermuda-grass pastures, but if not present, should be 

 sown. Redtop is another grass that makes a good mixture 

 with it, the first crop being mainly redtop and the second 

 Lespedeza. 



659. Pasturage value. Lespedeza is remarkable for 

 its ability to grow in the very poorest of sandy or gravelly 

 soils, but it makes far greater growth on rich calcareous 

 loams or clay loams. If not too closely grazed, it maintains 

 itself indefinitely where once established. It is a common 

 element of the pastures throughout the area where it 

 occurs except on wet lands. On poor thin soils it often 

 occurs in dense pure growths. It endures shade fairly 

 well, occurring abundantly in moderately open woodlands. 

 In no sense can it be called a weed, as it is quickly de- 

 stroyed by cultivation. The herbage is readily grazed by 

 all farm animals, and will withstand very heavy pasturing. 

 Like other clovers it sometimes causes mules and horses 

 to " slobber," but it has never been known to cause bloat- 

 ing. Late spring frosts sometimes destroy it. Under 

 close mowing, as on golf courses, it disappears after a few 

 years because no seed is formed. 



In the lower Mississippi valley, where it succeeds best, 

 Lespedeza may be grazed until June and still make a hay 

 crop, or cut in August and the aftermath used for pasture. 



660. Hay. Only in the lower Mississippi valley, where 

 Lespedeza grows tall, is it much cut for hay. It is com- 

 monly harvested with an ordinary mowing machine, but 

 is seldom cut for hay if less than 8 inches tall. The plants 



