LEGUMINOUS PLANTS. 



117 



protein contained in the hay of leguminous 

 plants is more than double that in the same 

 weight of the hay of grasses. 



II. TABLE OF COMPARISONS.* 



DIGESTIBLE NUTRIENTS AND FERTILIZING CONSTITUENTS. 



When it is considered that the majority of 

 leguminous plants yield two or more crops an- 

 nually, it will be seen that they supply from two 

 to four times as much protein per acre as the 

 grasses. Of the nitrogen contained in this pro- 

 tein, it should again be emphasized that a large 

 proportion of it is obtained from the air, through 

 the relation of these plants with the bacteria, 

 and thus the soil is not deprived of its supply 

 of nitrogen, as is the case with other forage 

 plants ; hence, no expensive nitrogenous fertili- 

 zer will be required to replenish the soil of fields 

 sown with leguminous crops. 



* Adapted from Henry's Feeds and Feeding. 



