GARDEN MANUAL FOR THE SOUTHERN STATES. 
Grows any- 
: Southern seed. 
where; is tenacious in any soil; lasts al- 
A legume. 
ways; well known now in the South. Sow 
in Spring in permanent pastures by scari- 
fying surface with disc harrow. It may be 
classed among the most valuable hay and 
pasture plants of the Southern States; is 
eaten greedily by stock—June till frost. 
In some soils it grows 20 inches high; is 
mowed; two tons to acre; rich soil grows 
20 inches; appears in May; can plant in 
Spring 25 pounds, or one bushel per acre 
alone, or in the Fall with rye and oats. 
This clover is spreading by natural means 
rapidly through the whole South. 
AS important to the Southern farmer as 
crimson clover is to the farmer and stock 
raiser of the North is Lespedeza, the 
Japanese clover that has been found to be 
particularly adapted to the soils and eli- 
mate of the States bordering on the Gulf 
and even further to the North. Introduced 
here several years ago, it has proven one 
of the best hay and forage crops of the 
continent, the record of its family kin in 
the North not being nearly so good nor so 
advantageous. 
Inasmuch as Lespedeza is comparatively 
a new crop, it is probable that in general, 
Mr. Farmer, you are not familiar with the 
habits of the plant. For this reason we 
print for your benefit the following facts 
from one who has made a specialty of this 
clover both for forage and for seed: 
“The best time to sow the seed is from 
December to March ist, but can be sowed 
as late as during month of April. The best 
time for harvesting for hay only is just 
when the clover is in bloom, but for hay 
and seed both, just when the seeds are 
about full grown. The clover blooms here 
from about August 15th to October 1st, 
according to the character of the soil and 
its richness. In poor, thin soil it will ma- 
ture much earlier than in rich, and thin 
land will produce much more seed. 
“The real and ideal way to start and 
maintain a Lespedeza field in a country 
where oats can be planted, is to plant oats, 
having the land in thoroughly good shape, 
and sow the clover at any time after the 
oats are up until the lst of March. When 
the oats are harvested, the clover will be 
up ready to grow off. Now, I venture to 
141 
say that if the land is properly handled 
after that first planting, it would be years 
before it would need reseeding. 
“After about three years the weeds will 
naturally begin to grow, then the land can 
be plowed very shallow in the Fall and 
another crop of oats grown without reseed- 
ing with clover. This can be kept up in- 
definitely, provided the hay is thoroughly 
ripe when cut. The hay at all times 
should be cut either early enough to put 
on a second growth in the Fall to make 
seed or not cut until the seed is ripe. The 
fields can be grazed as late as the ist or 
middle of July and a good crop made, but 
stock should not be allowed to run on the 
fields in wet weather, particularly when the 
ground is boggy. ‘ 
“The most redeeming quality of the 
Japan Clover is that it will build up old 
worn out lands and make a nice profit at 
the same time, and most any kind of a 
farmer can raise it, if he has meoney 
enough -to buy seed. It does not require 
many teams or much labor. In other 
words, it is a fine crop for a poor man, 
better for a wealthy one and best of all 
for a lazy one. 
“T started to raise Lespedeza some 
years ago, as I was buying $800 to $1,000 
worth of hay from one of my neighbors 
who raised it on a 40-acre farm and had 
all he wanted for his own stock and sold 
more elsewhere. I raised all I wanted the 
first year I started and I was so well 
pleased with my profits that I have this 
year 300 acres, not meaning by this that 
I am extra lazy, as I have 200 in corn, 100 
in cotton and 265 in cane to keep me busy 
in between time of hay planting and har- 
vesting. 
“The clover seed should not be planted 
on land very loose and mellow, as heavy 
rains will bury them too deep. If planted 
where there are no oats, the land should be 
prepared and leveled and let it get a good 
rain to settle it. Then scar it with a 
broadcast harrow and follow with the 
sowing, as the seed will lodge in the har- 
row marks and will not be brown or 
washed off.” 
There is a mistaken idea that Lespedeza 
is killed by frost in the Southern part of 
the United States. We have the testimony 
of one farmer who has been raising this 
hay for twenty years for his own use and 
has never had it killed by frost, although 
at one time a late freeze nipped it some- 
what. ; 
Horses and mules will keep fat on it 
alone if not doing hard work. Mares and 
colts will keep in excellent condition on 
Lespedeza alone, while cows will give an 
abundance of milk and butter if fed on 
this hay. 
We are told, “To try all things, prove all 
things, hold fast to that which is good.” If 
any one will try feeding his stock with 
well cured, pure Lespedeza hay in com- 
petition with hay from any section of the 
country, and will hear the verdict as to 
which. is best for the stock, Lespedeza will 
surely win out. 
Lespedeza is the cheapest restorer for 
worn-out lands the Southern farmer can 
find, and the easiest made and best hay 
that Can be grown in the South. (1 bushel 
per acre.) 
Well cultivated, heavy seed will be 
scarce, we therefore urge prospective pur- 
chasers to buy early. 
For Prices see Red Pages 
book, 
in back cf 
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