DUSSELL HECICLE 
SEED COMPANY 
Russell-Heckle^s LESPEDEZA - Japan Clover 
»riJT? HTPHTFiS THF Q/^ITTH Three species of Lespedeza—two annuals and one perennial—should be considered 
^ AiXjt X aIu X Xa H^^sniHirirr whirrh fn nlrrnt. The» annuals ar© (1) Commi 
varieties, Tennessee 76 and Kobe, and (2) Korean. 
before deciding which to plant. The annuals are (1) Common, with two improved 
The perennial is Lespedeza Sericea. 
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 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 25 per cent. 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 
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 taller, 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 15 inches high 
will leave ample time to grow a seed crop before frost. It is an annual 
making seed every vp"r. 
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 Lespede7.a. 
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. 
KOREAN LESPEDEZA 
Korean is the earliest of the annual Lespe- 
dezas, coming up first and growing rapidly, 
therefore giving earliest grazing of any Les¬ 
pedeza. Grows taller than Common, larger 
plant and coarser, with broader leaflets. Ko¬ 
rean 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. 
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 Les¬ 
pedeza was burned out. This drought resis¬ 
tance 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 ZVz 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. 
INOCULATE WITH NITHAGIN 
R. L. Downer, a prominent farmer in Ken¬ 
tucky, says: "Am pleased to report that I 
believe NITRAGIN to be just as good for 
the Lespedezas as for red clover and alfalfa, 
both Korean and Sericea showing more 
nodules and apparently more growth where 
NITRAGIN was used than where it was 
uninoculated." 
See page 21 for prices and further infor¬ 
mation. 
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. 
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. 
CLEAN YOUR LESPEDEZA WITH 
A CLIPPER CLEANER 
SEE PAGE 13 FOR DETAILS 
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, pene¬ 
trating often four feet into the soil, with a 
perfect mat of smaller roots spreading every¬ 
where—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 21 / 2 -foot rows. The yield is from 300 
to 900 pounds 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 advan¬ 
tage, 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. 
SEE PAGE 58 FOR SEED SOWERS AND FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTORS 
Same field of Lespedeza Sericea at two stages of growth 
FOR QUANTITY PRICES: SEE GREEN INK PRICE LIST ENCLOSED 
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