178 AGRICULTURE 



suitable soil in the extreme Southern states. It requires a 

 lime soil and is unsuited to most of the sandy lands from 

 the Carolinas to Louisiana. 



Japan clover. This is a soil-improving plant, but not a 

 true clover ; hence soil from near its roots will not inocu- 

 late crimson or red clover. Its true name is Lespedeza. 

 It is the best pasture plant among the legumes for the 

 poorest Southern soils. It grows wild over the greater part 

 of the Southern states. Although an annual, it comes up 

 every spring from seed shed the preceding fall. The seed 

 may be sown in early spring alone or on a field of oats or 

 wheat. On rich, moist land it sometimes grows tall enough 

 to be used for hay. The pasturage and the hay are very 

 nutritious. 



Soy bean. This annual legume (Figs. 118, 119, 120) is 

 used like the cowpea for hay, seed, and soil improvement. 

 It has the advantage over cowpeas that the hay does not 

 tangle and that the seed are threshed out instead of being 

 picked. It is sown in May or early in June in rows 

 about three feet apart. 



Grass plants used as food for live-stock. Common 

 grasses all have slender, pointed leaves, which wrap partly 

 around the stem. Those that creep along the ground and 

 form roots from the joints, like Bermuda grass and carpet 

 grass, are generally good for pasturage. North of the 

 Gulf states favorite pasture grasses are blue grass, orchard 

 grass, and red-top. Those that stand erect, like Johnson 

 grass, sorghum, and millet, are chiefly useful for hay. 



Many pastures are more profitable than any cultivated 

 land on the farm. Any land that has become too poor to 



