The Neshoba Democrat., 1922-02-16
lESPEOEzA As A SUBSTITUTE
FOR COTTON

Lespeuza, one OF the SOuth's great
est legumes. is the title OF an inter-
esting article prepared for Lespedza
Seed Growers Cooperative Assn.
lnc., by DR.. r. E. Lewis. Bains.
Louisiana, prominent farmer whe
is specializing in the growing OF this
profitable crop.
while the name, Lespedeza, was
supposed to have been given this
plant by botanist In 1900; it was not
until 1880 that 1t received the atten-
tion Its merits warranted. as a com
mercial farm product, under the de-
veiopment OF Col. B McGehee Of
Laurel Hill, Louisiana, who recogniz
ed It's value as feed for farm AMI
mais ana as a soil builder, and who
sang its praises for years. Its place
In southern agriculture is due large
ly to Col. McGehee, says Or Lewis.
Lespedeza is an ANNUAL, maturing
It's seed In the fall, which shadder
readily and reseed9he ground for the
coming year. Normally, these seeds
which shatter off at maturing time
remain dormant until the warmth
and moisture germinate them, It Ia
the practice to plant from February
15 to May l.
The stems and branches of the
Lespedeza plant are slender and the
leaves small but very numerous. A
good crop will grow to the height
OF IL to IL inches, and on fertile soils
~ inches is not unknown. It is es-
timated that a good stand OF Lespe-
deza VIII represent ton of hay for
each . inches OF It's growth.
This plant will grow on almost
any of the types of soil in the cotton
Delt. but OF course like most other
plants does best on more fertile.
well drained soil. 1t is thought
that no plant fs more suitable to fol-
low cotton, as Lespedeza brings the
soil back to its former state Of fertil-
It's.
The custom OF seeding Lespedeza
with oats has become more or less q.
fixed habit among the producers. as
the oats, by virture of its shade keen
down weeds and grasses and allows
the Lespedeza to make rapid growth.
however, just as good crops can be
produced when the seed ia sown
alone; but seeding with oats has
the advantage OF giving the :pIanter
two crops from the same ground
during the year, with but one culti-
vation. Experience indicates that
one bushel OF seed (25 lbs) Der acre is
about the right amount to be plant
ed. 1t requires no incubation. as
the rough little jackets containing
the seeds carry enough from the
fields from which they are taken to
insure perfect incubation.
No special soil preparation ia
necessary, although it has peen DEM
onstrated beyond a doubt that soils
well supplied with phosphates will
Eproduce the greatest growth.
| The method OF harvesting the hay
Will depend somewhat on the grade
OF hay desired. In any event. the
CHIEF effort should be directed to the
preservation OF the leaves upon the
stem as they constitute u great part
OF the feeding value. Cutting is not
started until the plants are In full
bloom, and the hay should not be
cut while the dew is on or while wet
from rain.
Little need be said In favor of Les
pedeza hay as feed for all kinds OF
stock after looking at the following
comarative analyses: Timothy con-
tains 2.S percent protien, 2s. 8 per-
cent carbohydrates and Ia percents
fats. Lespedeza contains 7.6 per-
cent protein 3l.0 percent carbohy-
drates and l,S percent fats. AS COM
pared with other leguIne hays it has
the advantage OF being free from
woody growth, permitting It's entire
consumption and Is free from the ex.
treme laxative properties which
make some legume hays undesirable
for work stock.
i When used as pasture with other
grasses 1t helps to make a balanced
ration and should be found In every
pasture In the South, thinks DR..
Lewis. As soil builder 1t ranks
( with other legumes.
The Lespedeza Seed Growers AS
sociation Of Baton Rouge. Louisiana
has done much in the way OF stand
ardizing the seed and seed prices. al
so In disseminating information In
connection with the best known
methods OF cultivation and harvest
Ing. According to reports sent out
from the office Of Assosciation, or
ders Tor thas one third OF the seed
t~.<. .Nx.SI 4