76 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



to publish a concise description of this work in the near 

 future. 



Clover is unquestionably the most valuable legume, serv- 

 ing admirably as a soil renovator, cover crop, soiling crop, 

 and as a component of the hay crop. Canada peas are 

 valuable chiefly for soiling purposes, and in some cases as a 

 cover crop. Sand vetch ( ]^icia mtiva) makes a good leg- 

 ume to be sown in the autunm ^vith wheat for early summer 

 soiling. It also serves as a soil renovator and as a cover 

 crop. Shammel, in Bulletin No. 14i) of the Connecticut 

 Experiment Station, has called attention to the value of this 

 plant when sown after the removal of tobacco. It blossoms 

 about June 1, and can then be plowed under, adding mate- 

 rially to the humus and nitrogen content of the soil. It 

 seeds poorly, and the seed is very expensive, which will 

 naturally much restrict its use. Alfalfa has been tried re- 

 peatedly on the station ground under fkvoi-able conditions, 

 but it has not as yet proved a satisfactory crop for practical 

 purposes. It is aftected with " leaf-spot," winter-kills, and 

 is crowded out by clover and grasses. Occasionally one 

 hears of successes by Massachusetts farmers. It is sug- 

 gested that our farmers try it in a small way (^4 acre), and 

 see if it will thrive in their locality. Soy beans (Brooks's 

 medium green) and several varieties of cow peas have been 

 carefully studied ; the latter are best suited to a more south- 

 ern climate. The soy beans thrive well in Massachusetts, 

 and may be used with satisfaction as a soiling crop, and 

 mixed with corn for silage purposes. It is believed, how- 

 ever, that it will prove more economical, as a rule, i'or 

 farmers and dairymen possessing satisfactory markets and 

 railroad facilities to purchase their protein in the form of 

 high-grade concentrates, rather than attempt to grow it in 

 the form of soy bean forage or seed. Soy beans may prove 

 an economical crop for localities situated at some distance 

 from markets and railroads. 



Comjy'dation of Anali/ses. — Attention is called to the 

 tables of composition and digestion of American feed stufls, 

 recently compiled, and published in the Appendix to this 

 rei)()rt. 



