The Neshoba Democrat., 1922-05-18
LESPEDEZA AS A SUBSTITUTE
FOR COTTON.

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greatest legumes. is the title of an
interesting article prepared for the
Lespedeza Seed Growers Cooper
ative Assn, Inc, by DR.. r. e. Lewis,
Bains, Louisiana, prominent farm
er who is specializing in the grow
ing of this profitable crop.
While the name, Lespedeza, was
supposed to have been given this
plant by botanists in 1900; it was
not until 1880 that it received the
attention its merits warranted, as
a commercial farm product, under
the development of Col. J. B. Niece
hee, of Laurel Hill, Louisiana, who
recognized its value as feed for
farm animals and as a soil builder,
and who sang its praises for years.
Its place in southern agriculture is
due largely to Col. McGehee, says
DR.. Lewis.
Lespedeza is an annual, maturing
its seed in the fall, which shatter
readily and reseed the ground for
the coming year. Normally, these
seeds which shatter off at maturing
time remain dormant until the
warmth and moisture germinate
them. 1t is the practice to plant
from February is to May 4.
The stems and branches of the
Lespedeza plant are slender and
the leaves small but very numer-
Gus. A good crop will grow to the
height of is to is inches, and on
fertile soils 80 inches is not un-
known. 1t is estimated that a good
stand of Lespedeza will represent
a ton Of hay for each inches Of
it's growth.
This plant will grow on almost
any OF the types of soil in the cot
ton belt, but Of course like most
other plants does best On a more
fertile, well drained sull. It is
thought that no plant is more suit
able to follow cotton, as Lespedeza
brings the soil back to it's former
state of fertility.
The custom of seeding Lespedeza
with oats has become more or less
a fixed habit among the producers,
as the oats, by virtue of its shade
keeps down weeds and grasses and
allows the. Lespedeza to make rapid
growth. However, just as good
crops can be produced when the
seed is sown alone; but seeding with
oats has the advantage of giving the
planter two crops from the same
ground during the year, with but
one cost of cultivation. Experience
indicates that one bushel Of seed
Us pounds) per acre is about the
right amount to be planted. Il re-
quires no inoculation, as the rough
little jackets containing the seeds
carry enough from the fields from
which they are taken to insure per-
feet incubation.
No special soil preparation is nee
essary, although it has been dem
onstrated beyond a doubt that soils
well supplied with phospnates will
produce 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 a great
part of the feeding value. Cutting
is not started unil 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 to be said in favor of |
hay as feed for al |
kinds of stock after looking at the
following comparative analysis:
Timothy contains 2.8 percent pro-
tein, 283 percent carbohydrates and
ia percent fats. Lespedeza con-
tains rs percent protein, $40 per-
cent carbohydrates and Ia percent
fats. AS compared with other le-
gume hays it has the advantage OF
being free from woody growth, per-
its entire consumption and
Is free from the extreme laxative
which make some le-
gume hays undesirable for work
stock.
When used as a 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 |,
! ranks with other legumes.
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