;}66 LESPEDEZii SfRlATA. JAPAN CLOVER. 



and mules should receive less corn <»r oats than when fed on any 

 other j>rovender. In some parts of the country the peas are 

 often troubled with ]»ea weevil or "bug." To i)revent this 

 Prof. Phares lets them remain in the pod till ready to use, or 

 when dry, then thresh them and mix with road dust. 



With referenc(( to the cow pea for Mississippi. I'rofessor Oul- 

 loy reports as follows: " For hay and for ])lowing in to fertilize 

 the land, we sow broadcast a bushel to a bushel and a half to the 

 acre, harrow in and cut with a mower as we would clover. lilack 

 and red peas make 'iiore vines and will stand wet weather with- 

 out rotting, when speckled peas will be entirely si)oiled. I sow 

 the black and red exclusively, cut for hay, feed olf with stock or 

 leave them to rot on the ground for manure. For seed we sow 

 in drills and cultivate once or twice. IVas are a slow cro}) to 

 gather, as they do not ripen evenly. J consider this crop one of 

 the most valuable for hay or ensilage or for restoring the fer- 

 tility of the soil. It stands first." 



Lespedeza striata, Japan Clover.— This is a low annual 

 herl), with small trifoliolatc leaves and very small flowers, })ro- 

 ducing a small, llattish, indehiscent one-seeded i)od. The seeds 

 to this were accidentally brought to South Carolina about lS4n, 

 probably in connection with importations of tea from China. It 

 has spread continually and <{uite ra})idly over the South, and has 

 (piite tenaciously held its own, even crowding liermuda grass. 



1'he writer knows little t)f this i)lant, and ventures to quote 

 some very conllicting opinions as to Us value. Several writers 

 speak of it as very suitable for poor soils for grazing in dry, hot 

 weather. The stems s{)read close to the ground, seldom grow- 

 ing over a foot high. It is quite firm and hard, and at lirst not 

 a favorite with stock. They learn to eat and thrive on it be- 

 cause of its nutritive qualities, which chemical analysis makes 



Fia. lift.—Leapedeza utriata. (Japan Clover.) Part of a plant.— (U. S. Agrl. Kept.) 



