The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1921-04-22
VELVET BEANS
The Best and Surest Summer Leau'ne
for South caroIina-Great for Feed
and Fertility, Says N. e. Win
tiers, Extension Aeronomist.

Clemson College, April 25.-Of the
great variety of legumes which may
be crown in South Carolina for feed
pasture, and soil improvement, velvet
beans probably head the list for the
following reasons:
They make a fairly good growth on
the poorest land in the South.
They make a bigger growth than
almost any other legume.
Because sof their growth they take
a large amount Of nitrogen from the
air; and when plowed under or pas
tured off and all residue and manure
incorporated with the soil, most or
this nitrogen and large amounts OF or
gantic matter are added to the soil.
Every ton of growth may add to the
soil from rs to 80 pounds Of expen'
sive nitrogen.
They will make lore milk and meat
per acre as a pasture next fall and
winter than anything farmers can
plant this spring.
Last, but not least, when planted in
corn they help to check that Fodder
sullin' disease" an ~antiQuated and e1-
pensive method Of making feed.
Varieties.
Probably the best varieties for
| South Carolina are the Early Speckled
or Ninety Day, and the Osceola. The
former natures in about 120 days and
the latter in about 160 days. The o.
ceola makes a larger growth OF vine
and foliage and larger pods than the
| Early Speckled; but as it needs about
40 days longer period, it is not so well
adapted to the upper part of the state.
The Early Epeckled natures any
where in South Carolina. Livestock
; usually eat the Early Speckled mor
readily than the Osceola, although
they like both
Velvet beans make more seed n
! better pasture if they have a trellis to
run on, and corn is the most profit
! able trellis. Most velvet bean grow
ers plant them in their corn, in alter
| nate rows with the. corn, using corn
rows 6 - to Z feet wide. If the length
of season permits, it is a good plan to
plant the beans from 20 to 80 days
! after the corn, which permits the
! corn to make more growth before the
beans begin to entwine around IT, and
results in the corr standing up better
at harvest time.
Another method adapted to the up
per part Of the state especially Is TO
lay off all rows about four feet apart
and plant every third row to velvet
beans with corn in the two rows be-
| tween. This is especially advisable
where the beans are planted at the
same time as the corn, as it takes
! longer for the vines to cover the corn
and usually leaves a better opening
between the two corn rows in which
one may walk in gathering the corn.
Amount of Seed Per Acre.
Farmers are using from one. to two
pecks of seed per acre for planting In
corn, planting from IL to "a inches
apart in the drill. If planted alone IN
rows, about one bushel Of seed per
acre is required, or about six pecks
broadcast.
Effect on Corn Crop. -,
The first year the beans may re-
duce the yield of corn about two bush
els (about the same reduction as pull
ing fodder causes); buttthe next year
| following a crop Of velvet beans the
/ Weld of corn is likely to be increased
about SO per cent, and cotton about 20
percent. . On poor soil the increases
are often more than this.
Fertilization and incubation.
It is usual to fertilize the corn as
YOU otherwise would and let the velvet
beans use what the corn doesn't get.
Some farmers increase the amount OF
| their corn fertilizer for the benefit OF
| the velvet beans. It is never neces'
sary. however, to increase the amount
of ammonia in the fertilizer for vel
wet beans.
Velvet beans use the same inocula-
ton as cowpeas. peanuts, n lespe-
deza or Japan clover, hence inocuia-
ton is practically v necessary, as
our soils are already %inoculated for
them.
Velvet Beans-Good Business.
Velvet beans are the safest and
surest summer legume for South caro-
lima, and we are not going to be n
prosperous state that God intended
until every cornfield in South Carolina
is wrapped up in velvet beans every
year.
In most of our soils nitrogen Is the
limiting element in crop production.
II is also the most expensive part OF
the fertilizer that we buy. Nearly
/ thirty million dollars was spent u
1920 BY the South Carolina farmers
for nitrogen; yet it is estimated mat
one square mile OF the air contains
enough nitrogen to supply the whole
uorld for fifty Years for crop prGduc"