148 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I904. 



THE LEGUMES. 



The family of the legumes, which include such plants as 

 clover, peas, vetches and beans, carry much higher percentages 

 of nitrogen than most other plants and differ, so far as known, 

 from all other plants in that they can obtain all or practically 

 all their nitrogen from the free nitrogen of the air. This they 

 cannot do directly, but by the assistance of minute organisms 

 which grow upon their roots. (See page 136). In order to 

 thus acquire nitrogen it is necessary that the soil contain the 

 proper organism, usually a different kind for each legume. If 

 the soil is not stocked with the proper organism it can be, either 

 by applying soil from a field known to carry them, or by 

 "cultures." The soil almost everywhere in Maine is stocked 

 with the organisms that work upon clover, peas and beans. 

 Because of their power under these conditions to acquire the 

 larger part of their nitrogen from the air, the legumes can be 

 fertilized very differently, and at less cost than other plants. 

 Formulas, carrying a little nitrogen to give the plants a start, 

 and furnishing the needed minerals for the crop, follow. To 

 make these in sufficiently good mechanical condition for use in 

 machinery, they need to be mixed with about 150 pounds fine 

 dry muck, loam or similar materials. 



A SUGGESTED FORMULA (NO. 12) EOR THE CLOVERS, OR ALPALEA 

 WITHOUT OTHER MANURE AND ON LAND CARRYING THE 

 PROPER ROOT TUBERCLE ORGANISMS. EOR ONE ACRE. 





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