4 LEAFLET 10 0, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



is also the one in which the improved varieties are most generally 

 grown. 



A rotation of small grain and lespedeza may be established and 

 maintained for several years without plowing. This plan is es- 

 pecially successful with Korean lespedeza. After the seed is ripe 

 the field is disked and winter grain seeded. After the harvesting 

 of the grain the lespedeza may be grazed. In some cases this plan 

 has resulted in increased yields of grain and reduced cost of produc- 

 tion. From a' combination of winter grain and lespedeza the farmer 

 may obtain pasturage over a long period. The grain may be grazed 

 from late winter to May, and with the possible exception of 2 weeks 

 between grain and lespedeza, grazing may continue until frost. In 

 the fall the lespedeza may be disked and grain again seeded. 

 Korean lespedeza lends itself especially well to this system, as there 

 is sure to be a heavy seed crop before it is necessary to seed the 

 grain. 



Lespedeza, being a hot-weather plant, makes an especially good 

 pasture combination with such grasses as orchard grass and redtop. 

 These make good grazing in the spring but are of little value in 

 the summer, when the lespedeza is at its best. When cattle are 

 grazed mostly on grass pasture it is advisable to have a reserve 

 field of lespedeza upon which the cattle may be turned from July 

 until frost. This will maintain gains or keep up and even increase 

 the milk flow while resting the grass. This plan has been followed 

 successfully by the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station in 

 connection with bluegrass pastures. 



The front-page illustration shows cattle grazing on Korean 

 lespedeza. 



Lespedeza must not be expected to provide early grazing. In 

 North Carolina and Kentuck} 7 June 1 to 15 is a fair date to expect 

 early grazing from lespedeza. Korean grows more rapidly in the 

 spring than the other lespedezas, but dies earlier, so that it is not so 

 good for late grazing. In favorable locations or seasons grazing 

 may begin May 15, but at higher elevations and north of the Ohio 

 Elver little grazing may be expected until July. Where the different 

 varieties produce good seed crops they cannot be killed out by 

 overgrazing. 



A good pasture of pure lespedeza may be expected to reproduce 

 year after year as long as it is wanted. This is true also of a grass- 

 lespecleza pasture, except that on good bluegrass land the grass will 

 probably crowd the lespedeza out in the course of time. 



The carrying capacity of a good stand of lespedeza may be roughly 

 estimated at from 1 to 2 mature cows per acre from June 1 or July 1 

 to October 15 or frost, depending on the variety and location. 



Soil Improvement 



The fact that lespedezas will improve the soil on which they are 

 grown, so that subsequent crops of small grain, corn, and cotton will 

 be larger than before lespedeza was planted, is well established. The 

 degree of this improvement as measured by increased yields will 

 depend upon the way the lespedeza is handled and on soil and cli- 

 matic conditions. When the lespedeza is cut for hay, increases of 

 from 50 to 100 percent in the yields of corn and cotton have fre- 



