REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. II 
fertilizers upon the composition of the crop. The results upon 
grasses up to 1892 were given in pages 60-66 of the Report of the 
Station for that year. It is found not only that nitrogenous 
fertilizers increase the total yield of grasses, but also that the per- 
centage of protein in them is larger, so that the value of the crop 
is increased in a two-fold way. 
During 1893 especial attention was given to legumes. This 
work will be repeated and enlarged the coming year, and the re- 
sults are accordingly reserved for later publication. Meanwhile 
it may be said that the experience of the Station serves to em- 
phasize and explain the importance of leguminous plants. The 
statements (See Bulletin 6 of the Station) will bear constant 
repetition, that the legumes are especially valuable because of:— 
1. Their large percentage of protein compounds which serve 
to form blood, muscle, bone and milk, and their consequent feed- 
ing value, which exceeds that of the grasses, corn fodder, corn 
stover, or straws. They may be used to supplement these fod- 
ders, in place of the concentrated nitrogenous feeds, such as bran, 
cotton seed, linseed, and gluten meals, etc. Hay from the 
legumes is twice or more than twice as rich in protein as that 
from the grasses. — 
2. Their power of gathering large quantities of plant food 
from natural sources. Many, if not all of our common legumes 
acquire considerable quantities of nitrogen from the air. Their 
roots penetrate deeply into the subsoil, and they thus obtain plant 
food from depths beyond the reach of plants with smaller root 
development. 
3. Their manurial value. When the crop is fed, most of the 
nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash and other fertilizing ingredients 
go into-the excrement, liquid and solid, and if preserved, make a 
rich manure. Ifthe crop is plowed under, its plant food, includ- 
ing that acquired from the air and gathered from the subsoil, be- 
comes available for succeeding crops. ‘The large amounts of 
plant food left behind in roots and stubble after the removal of 
the crop, furnish a cheap and valuable store of plant food for fol- 
lowing crops. 
Among the legumes which the experience of the Station leads 
us to commend for trial in the State are clovers, including scarlet 
clover, cow peas, vetch and soy beans. 
