SERICEA AND OTHER PERENNIAL LESPEDEZAS 



19 



Figure 8. — Cutting sericea at the wrong time may kill it. Weeds are growing 

 where sericea was cut for hay the preceding September 15. The strips where 

 sericea is growing were not cut. 



It seems probable that on poor soil on which the growth of 

 sericea is not vigorous one hay crop only should be taken. The 

 later growth may be taken for seed. On better soil two hay 

 crops may be taken and there may be a small seed crop on the 

 later growth. In rare cases only will it be wise to take three 

 hay crops in a year. In this case no seed will be produced. It 

 is believed to be inadvisable to take a hay crop later than the 

 middle of August and preferably not later than early August. 



Chemical Analysis 



The quality of sericea hay, as determined by its chemical 

 analysis, will depend primarily on the stage of growth when it 

 is cut. As stated earlier, woody tissue begins to form at the base 

 of the stem when the young shoots are about a foot long and 

 extends upward rapidly. When sericea is 3 feet high the main 

 stem and most of the branches are quite woody. This increases 

 the indigestible fiber content. 



Analyses of sericea cut at weekly intervals from May 29 to 

 July 31 are shown in table 3. It will be noted that the protein 

 content was highest in the material cut May 29, at a height of 

 about 15 inches, and lowest in the most mature lot, cut July 31. 

 In general, the percentage of crude fiber increased and that of 

 ash decreased with age. There were only minor changes in the 

 percentages of ether extract and of nitrogen-free extract. 



