Russell-Heckle’s LESPEDEZA - Japan Clover 
The Alfalfa of the South 
Three species of Lespedeza — two annuals and one perennial — should he 
ciding which to plant. The annuals are (1) Common, with two improved 
and Kobe, and (2') Korean. The perennial is Lespedeza Sericea. 
considered before de- 
varieties, Tennessee 76 
Planting Directions 
Sow in February, March, April 
Lespedeza grows anywhere in the South. It is the only clover 
we know of that will grow on acid soils, but it does respond to lime. 
It grows on worn-out gravelly hillsides, and waste lands where 
nothing else of value will grow. Naturally, it produces better results 
on the better soils, except on black buckshot in the delta sections— 
do not plant it there for it will fail. • 
Lespedeza withstands drouths that will kill other crops when there 
is a thick stand before drouth begins. Being a legume it is a valuable 
soil improver, and thousands of acres of worn out soil have been 
restored to extreme fertility by sowing Lespedeza, grazing it to hogs 
and cattle for a year or two then turning under in the fall. 
Lespedeza stands heavy grazing, and will increase grazing capacity 
of pastures by 26 percent. It reseeds itself every year even when 
severely grazed, but you can kill it out any time you want with a 
cultivated crop. 
Lespedeza hay is nearly as high in feeding value as alfalfa, and is 
about the most used hay in the South. We have seen yields of five 
Korean Lespedeza 
Korean is the earliest of the annual Lespedezas, coming up first 
and growing rapidly, therefore giving earliest grazing of any 
lespedeza. Grows taller than Common, larger plant and coarser, 
with broader leaflets. Korean matures earlier than other lespedezas, 
seed beginning to ripen in September. The only variety suitable for 
Northern half of the United States. Korean is fine in combination 
with grain for it will drop seed before time to break the ground 
to sow grain in the fall. Korean is fine in pasture combinations, 
and an abundant hay yielder. 
Tennessee No. 76 Lespedeza 
This variety is similar to the common or wild variety, except that 
it is taller and more upright in growth, holding all the branches 
off the ground, even when the plants stand alone. It is finer stemmed 
than Korean or Kobe, and grows to the height of nearly three feet 
under favorable conditions. It blooms slightly later than Kobe and 
considerably later than Korean or Common. The hay yields made on 
the West Tennessee Experiment Farms are larger than those of the 
other varieties. 
Kobe Lespedeza 
Kobe has certainly earned a home for itself on Southern farms, 
particularly where long periods of drought occurred, for Kobe came 
through these droughts where Common Lespedeza was burned out. 
This drought resistance is a life-saver to a farmer, and is no doubt 
due to the very extensive root system and its rank growth, with 
larger than ordinary leaves. We have seen Kobe 38 inches tall but 
usually it is 2 to 2% feet tall. We have seen yields of 4 tons per 
acre with Kobe. It is excellent for hay and pasture alike. Can be 
sown with oats, also with orchard grass and red top or herd’s grass. 
Common Lespedeza 
The original variety, grown all over the South, for hay, grazing 
and soil building. Not so tall as Kobe and Korean but is a good crop 
and will always be in demand. 
tons per acre in one season, though two tons is more usual. The 
better the soil the better the hay yield—moisture is a big factor. The 
best hay is made when lespedeza is not more than 15 inches high— 
when teller, it is more stemmy with smaller proportion of leaves. 
When it is left until a considerable proportion of seed are ripe the 
resulting hay is of poorer grade. 
Lespedeza contains less moisture than alfalfa or red clover, and is 
therefore more quickly cured. Cutting when about 16 inches high 
will leave ample time to grow a seed crop before frost. It is an annual 
making seed every year. 
Mixed lespedeza and Bermuda grass hay is often cut—it also com¬ 
bines well with orchard grass and red top—^the first cutting is 
almost all grass, the second pure lespedeza. 
Lespedeza can also be sown in the spring on top of fall planted 
oats. When the oats are cut in dough state, or later for grain, the 
lespedeza. will come on and make a full hay crop, and later on, a 
seed crop. 
Inoculate all lespedezas^—with Nitragin. 
LESPEDEZA SERICEA 
The New Perennial Lespedeza 
An entirely new type—once planted, it comes back each spring 
from the crowns like alfalfa, and is often called “The Poor Land 
Alfalfa.” All other lespedeza varieties must be re-seeded or allowed 
to drop their seed each year. 
Sericea has an enormous root system, penetrating often four feet 
into the soil, with a pexTect mat of smaller roots spreading everywhere 
—you can see what this means as a positive cure for soil erosion. 
Further it seems to be the answer to a farmer’s prayer for a pasture 
that is drought proof. Sericea pastures in Korea in use for fifty 
years are better today than ever. The enormous root system is loaded 
with nodules of nitrogen, adding immensely to soil fertility provided 
you inoculate when seeding. 
Sericea will grow apparently anywhere in the South on almost 
any type of soil (except Miss. Delta buckshot) without liming or 
any kind of treatment. Two cuttings of hay and a seed crop may 
be obtained each year, as high as four tons of dry hay in one season, 
the equal of alfalfa in feeding value. Sericea is extremely leafy. 
Plant only hulled and scarified seed in April or May, after danger of 
frost is past. This treatment of the seed brings quick germination. 
If you plant unhulled seed in the spring you won’t get 10 per cent 
germination, so avoid this. For seed crop, plant 4 pounds scarified 
seed per acre in 2^/^ ft. rows. The yield is from 300 to 900 lbs. of 
seed per acre. For hay, sow 20 pounds of scarified seed per acre. 
Have your seed bed free of weeds, thoroughly plowed, disked and 
harrowed, cover seed very lightly—you can use a light roller to ad¬ 
vantage, firming the soil to conserve moisture. 
The first year you will see lots of grass and weeds, but don’t give 
up—^the second year Sericea looks much better, and the third year, 
and thereafter, you have a crop you will be eternally proud of. 
Quantity and current prices on all Lespedeza seed are given on our Green Ink List. 
Green Ink List Enclosed 
£451 
RUSSELL-HECKLE 
