LEGUMINOUS CROPS FOR THE ARKANSAS 
VALLEY. 
BY H. H. GRIFFIN. 
For three seasons the sub-station has been testing le¬ 
guminous plants to ascertain what may be expected of them 
in this valley. The main object has been fertility, but in¬ 
cidentally their value for forage, for bees and mulch or 
cover crops for the soil. 
The plants under investigation are the Serradella, Red 
Clover, Cow pea, Field pea, Soy bean and Hairy vetch. 
SERRADELLA. ( OmitkopUS SCltivUS.) 
The Station failed to secure a single plant of this 
legume. The writer has seen other trials in the arid region 
with this plant but has never seen them successful. The 
plant does not seem to be adapted to arid conditions. 
red clover. (Trifolium pratense .) 
This legume does not thrive under our arid conditions. 
However, in old orchards where there is partial shade, or 
in open fields where the soil is rather heavy and water 
supply abundant, some success may be secured with Red 
Clover. 
To be of much value as a fertilizing plant it must occupy 
the land for at least three years and as there is not much 
revenue from it in the interim, it becomes an expensive 
plant to grow for field fertilizing. 
The only place for which we can recommend it at all 
is old orchards and it is doubtful whether it is advisable to 
use there, as there are other plants better adapted to our 
conditions. 
cow pea. ( Vigna catjang) 
, • 
This is a valuable plant for the Arkansas Valley. The 
Station has tested the Whipporwill, Black, Clay and New 
Era varieties. The former we consider the most desirable 
owing to its upright growth. This variety will ripen if 
sown as late as the last of May. 
As high as two tons of hay per acre have been cut on 
jand devoted to this plant, besides leaving a considerable 
