The weekly Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-02
Supplementary PASTURE
When Glover Is Short Rape, Cow
Peas, Soy Beans, Oats, Rye,
Vetch and Pumpkins
Are Good.

Lafayette, Ind, April 9Th
diana farmers find that they are in
need of more knowledge of crops to
SOW for an early pasture, as a re-
suit of the dirastrous effects of the
drouth and other unfavorable con-
ditions on the clover crop during
the past year, according to Prof NJ.
l.. Fisher of the Soils and Crops
Department, and F. G. King of the
Department of Animal Husbandry,
at Purdue, who have recently issued
a bulletin on Supplementary Pas
ture Crops The bulletin is re-
ceiving the commentator of all
who have seen it, and will be mail
ed free to all farmers applying for
same.
In discussing the value of a pas
ture, the bulletin recalls the work
of the Missouri Experiment Sta
ton, which claims that "the aver
age amount of grain to produce a
pound of gain with five dry lot ex-
periments was I'll pounds, and
that when well balanced rations
were used. The average amount of
grain to produce a pound of gain
with hogs on forage crops was 3.54
pounds. The forage crops thus eff
fected a saving of 30.7 per cent IN
the amount of grain to produce
the amount of gain. On this basis,
the profits per acre of forage for
pork worth six cents, may range
from 1925 to 1851 per acre. The
average value of a bushel of corn
at this rate. when fed to hogs in
dry lot, was 66 cents per bushel;
the average value of a bushel of
corn fed to hogs on forage, %
cents.
Red clover Is principally depend
ed upon for hog pasture in Indiana,
and in cases of crop failure, the
farmers are at a loss to know Just
what to do. 1t is both possible to
SOW some quick-growing crop, or
series of crops, as well as ecOnOm-
zeal, and thereby furnish an abund-
ance of hog pasture of almost the
same feeding value as clover and
at very little extra cos. in time and
labor.
The Purdue men advise the SOW
ing of rape as one of the most salts
factory crops for early hog pasture
when clover is not available. This
is a gross feeder and does its best
on very fertile or heavily MANFRED
soil. 1t grows particularly well on
old feed lots and lots used for
yarding stock in winter, as well as
on muck land
As a legume producing much
forage and considerable grain, the
bulletin recommends the use of cow
peas, which require 90 days from
the time of planting until it is de-
veloped sufficiently for pasturing,
with some varieties. These will
grow on almost any kind of soil but
will do better on sandy soils and
some of the poorer clay soils than
most crops. 1t gives good returns,
like most crops, from a good soil.
The seed bed is prepared the same
as for corn.
Another legume which will be
found available for planting under
existing conditions, Is the soy-bean.
The bulletin discusses exhaustively
this plant and gives valuable adj
rice concerning the feeding ration
to be fed in connection with the
leeume. Canadian Field Peas, as an
additional legume suitable for
planting under Indiana conditions,
is to be found satisfactory in the
cooler climates.
The bulletin also discusses the
planting of oats, rye, vetch, Grim
son clover, sorghum, root crops
pumpkins, and gives a number Of
interesting tables showing the pas
ture values of the various plants
bv months, and the proper time of
sowing the recommended supple
mentary crops for forage crops fol-
hogs, as well as valuable sugges-
tons concerning the succession OF
forage crops in various parts Ct
the state.
Prof. C.. l. Christie,