FORAGE CROPS 



137 



was cut into the silo. In 1896, about two and one-half acres 

 were grown, a photograph of which is shown in Fig. 9. This 

 was in blossom when cut into the silo, being of the late variety. 

 During 1897 and 1898, a fair-sized area, besides small variety 

 test plots, has been grown. Fig. 10 contains a specimen of 

 each of the early, medium, and late varieties, taken in Septem- 

 ber of the present season, and represents their various degrees 

 of development. No. i is dead ripe, with leaves fallen ; it con- 

 tains, on an average, from 40 to 75 bean pods, with from 2 to 3 

 beans each. No. 2 is the medium early variety, and, although 

 green when harvested, the seed was matured. No. 3 is the late 

 variety, and although of good size, it was still in blossom when 

 photographed. 



The average yield of each variety per acre, when grown upon 

 a fairly rich, clay loam, although poorly drained, was, for the 

 early. No. i, 2 tons, 1,808 pounds; for the medium-early, No. 2, 

 4 tons, 1,922 pounds; and for the late. No. 3, 4 tons, 1,680 

 pounds. The seed of the early is brown, while that of the 

 medium-early is black. All things considered, the medium-early 

 variety is the best, on account of its maturing a large quantity 

 of seed as well as making a fine leafy growth, thus enabling one 

 either to sell the seed, or convert the whole into silage. When 

 the crop is to be cured for hay, it should be cut when in blos- 

 som. Cow^s eat it, but do not seem to relish it much. It is 

 always advisable to feed it with fodder corn, millets, etc., when 

 used for soiling. Likewise when mixed with corn for ensi- 

 lage, it forms a very valuable concentrated food. Our experi- 

 ence has been that, when cut into the silo, the chief objection 

 is its woody, indigestible stem. 



The seed in all instances, with the exception of one experi- 

 ment this present season, has been sown in drills three feet 

 apart, with seed dropped one foot apart in the row, which 

 requires about one-half bushel per acre. The method of culti- 

 vation was exactly the same as that given corn. 



The idea that this plant will grow equally well on wornout 

 soils, without fertilizer, is an erroneous one. It is necessary to 

 either fertilize the land, or use soil in good heart already, if an 

 average crop is expected. Potash, phosphoric acid, and lime 



