12 FARMERS' BULLETIN 814. 



makes only a weak growth on the sandy soils in the piny woods 

 region. It grows well on clay soils which are too dry and hard for 

 most other legumes. 



Bur clover makes its growth in winter and spring and does well on 

 soils which are quite sandy, and even those which contain little lime. 

 It begins its growth in the fall, soon after the Bermuda grass has been 

 cut by frosts, and ripens its seed and disappears at about the 'time 

 the grass begins its growth in the spring, so it is practically an alter- 

 nating crop. It makes excellent grazing for hogs and calves, but is 

 of less value for grown cattle and is not eaten readily by mules and 

 horses until after the seed begins to ripen. A combination of bur 

 clover and Bermuda grass is one of the best successions for a perma- 

 nent pasture for hogs and calves, as it furnishes good grazing through- 

 out most or all of the year. 



Black medic has proved of decided value for growing with Bermuda 

 grass in northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and its use 

 is being rapidly extended to other sections. Its growth is not as 

 rank as that of bur clover, but it gives grazing both earlier and later 

 in the season and is eaten more readily by cattle and mules. It 

 grows larger on clayey than on sandy soils and is better adapted to 

 the hardwood region than to' that of the piny woods. 



These three legumes are all annuals, but reseed the ground freely 

 and so need be planted in pastures but once. 



Melilotus usually does not bloom until the second season, but in 

 every field there will be a few plants which produce seeds the first year. 

 Many of the seeds of the original sowing do not germinate until the 

 second season, so the crop is practically continuous and needs to 

 be planted but once. Melilotus grows taller and coarser than the 

 other legumes mentioned, but will thrive on soils too thin and barren 

 for the others, provided it is rich in lime. If lime is plentiful it will 

 grow well on very thin and barren spots where the Bermuda grass 

 will make only a weak growth. It has an unusually large and power- 

 ful taproot, and after having been grown on a hard soil a few years 

 causes the soil to become so mellowed and so enriched by the nitrogen 

 and humus left by the decay of the roots that the land is more easily 

 cultivated and more productive. As the soil is brought into a better 

 condition the melilotus gradually disappears and is replaced by a 

 growth of Bermuda grass. 



All of these legumes have taproots, which by their quick decay at 

 the end of the season make the soil less compact and by their humus- 

 making and nitrogen-gathering work serve to increase its fertility. 

 At the same time their growth prevents the Bermuda grass from 

 becoming sod bound and so tends to increase the yield of this grass. 



Lespedeza and at least one of the other legumes mentioned should 

 be planted in every Bermuda-grass pasture. 



