Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-02-26
The Cow Pea as a Fertilizer.

In letter written 70 the Cultipato- last
year, MIR. David Dickson gives some prac.
teal hints upon THIS subject. We repro
due" them now that the readers of the
Chronicle & Sentinel may make the nec-
essary arrangements in time for the Sum-
mer sowing. Mr. D,ck>ou says:
The he"efi,s of growing green crops,
aud hurving them in the soil Tor the benefit
of future crops are too we'll understood to
be questioned by any one, but it has open.
ed que>tio" in agricultural economy
that has not been settled so satisfactorily.
The Eugiish farmers formerly used half
ton "f ground bones per acre to grow a
single cr' p. but they have found BY dis
solving 200 pounds Of bones in acid, a, a
cost of SO per cent. on the price of homes
(making the whole cost equal to tha, of
800 pounds Of Lone>,) that it will produce
the same effect at an outlay of only 80
per cent. on that Of the former mode, the
latter method giving them The means of
returning the same amount OF manure to
the land next year as the former did, by
producing the sa'ne amount Of hay. tur-
nps and other forage to feed stock.
Now, admitting that it will pay to grow
peas and clover, to be turned under as
fertilizers. the following questions arise |,
AT what time shoud they be turned under
to insure the greatest benefit? Would it
pay belser O feed them of the land Than
TO cover them with plow, and villa, do
they lose by drying before bei"g turned
under? Here again tbe'qnes,iou of solu
hIe and insoiuhle nanures ia involved. I
have always taken the side of soluble ma
nures as being the most economical. Dry
pea vlnes aud clover will soon become 90
Iuble.
l will give you my practice. It is one
that will pay, although I will mol say thu,
it is the best. First, keep your land in
good heart; let The field that you intend
to SOW peas on remain falluw. until you
lay oy your corn-say from the let to the
20lh Of july. You will then have a large
growth of green wee'ls to turn under
Start your teams with good turn blows,
uing off The land IA nearly level rs you
can. and go round and round until the
land or cut is finished. Start the pea
dropper after every third plough. and the
hand with the manure after the pea drop
per. Drop the manure within f ur ir hes
Of the peas. 1t you find ,te peas will
make from seven to fifteen bushels pc.
acr.. turn clock in upon them. pInring, salt
in places over the field, to cause the most
of the manure to be dropped on the field.
Then invest all the profit arising from
feeling stock on the field in bones and
Peruvian guano for the next crop, and you
v,lI find th,s system will pay. I have
adoption, with both wheat and cotton,
with good success. If the peas fail TO
fruit, turn them under whilst green.
Second Plan.-Plant peas the FIRST of
April, same ~ above: turn under before
the stems become very woody, and plan.
and monurea a second crop at the same
time that you are turni. G under the first
crop of vines, and treat the second crop as
you did the first.
The true policy is to secure the greatest
amonns Of soluble vegetable mold you can
With the least coat.
Very truly. yours, David Dickson.
N. B.-I prefer peas planted and cnlti.
vated on q level, both for the land and
crop, and for a sowing Of so'alI gran after
The pea crcp.