The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-02-11
LESPEDEZA AS
A SUBSTITUTE
FOR COTTON

FOR COTTON
LespedeZa, one of the South 6
greatest lcgumes. is the title Of an
interesting article prepared for the
/ LespedeZa Seed Growers Copera-
/ tive Association, Inc. by DR.. r. E
! Lewiss Bains, Louisiana. pronli-
nent Farmer who is specializing in
the growing of this profitable crop.
While the name, LeSpedeZa, was
supposed to have been given this
| plant by botanists in 1906; it was
not until 1880 that it received the
attention its merits warranted, us
commercial farm product. under
the development OF Col. J. 3. Nc
/! Gehce,. Of Laurel Fill, Louisiana.
who recognized its value as a feed
| for farm animals and as a soil
! builder, and who sang it's praises
for years. It's place in southern
agriculture is due largely to Col.
! McGehee, says DR.. Lewis.
LespedeZa is an annual, maturing
it's seed in the fall, which shatter
readily and reseed the ground Tor
the coming vera. Normally, these
seeds which shatter eff at maturing
time remain dormant until the
warmth and moisture germinatc
them. 1t is the practice to plant
from February IS TO May !.
The stems and branches Of the
LcspedeZa plant are slender and
the leaves small but very numer-
ous. a good crop will grow to the
height Of 15 to IS inches, and on
fertile soils 80 inches in not un-
known. 1t is estimated that q good
stand OF Lespedeza will represent
a ton Of hay for each G inches Of
its 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 more
fertile, we'll drained soil. 1t is
thought that no plant is more suit
able to follow cotton, as Lcspedeza
brings the soil back to its former
state Of fertility.
The custom Of seeding Lespedeza
with oats has become more or less
fixed haiti among the producers
as the oats, by virtue Of its shade
keeps down weeds and grasses and
allows the Lesped,za 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 Civ
ing tie planter two crops from the
same ground during the year, with
but one cost Of cultivation. En-
perience indicates that one bushei
Of seed (25 lbs per acre is about
the right amount 20 be planted. IL
requires no incubation, as the
rough little jackets containing the
seeds carry enough from the fields
from which they are taken to in
sure perfect inoculation.
No special soil preparation is
necessary, although 1T has been
demonstrated beyond doubt that
soils we'll supplied with phosphates
will produce the. greatest growth.
The method Of harvesting the
hay will depend son,c That on tnc
grade Of hay desired. In any
event. the chief effort should be oi-
rected to the preservation of the
leaves upon the stem as they constl-
tute great par; cf the feeding
syalue. 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
Lespedeza hay as feed for ~
kinds Of stock after looking at the
following comparative analyses:
Timothy contains IS per cent pro :
tein. 2S.3 per cent carbohydrates
and IA per cent fats. LespedeZa
contains &c pen. cent protein, 2l.o
per cent carbohydrates and is per
cent fats. AS compared with other
legume hays it has the advantage
of being free FROM woody growth,
permitting its entire consumption
and is free from the extreme iaXa :
tive properties "hlch make some
,egume hays undesirable for work
stock.
When used as a pasture WITH
other grasses it helps 70 make a
balanced ration :,nd Should be
found in every pasture in the
South, thinks DR. Lewis. rs q Sol.