The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-03-09
The Cow Pea.

Tire vslne of this pea. ii it, advantages
were known would be great, but as u has
been principally grown in the south, II Is
only Very recently that IL has been brouRht
to the attention OF Northern farmers. Even
in tire South il has not received the notice
due 10 a plant So important 10 agriculture IN
that section as il deserves, for II has really
beer, the means of rescuing some of the
Southern plantations from total exhaustion.
The COW pea though called pea IS prop
erly bean IL will grow on soil that scarcely
produces anything. hut is, however, sensible
20 the effects OF good manuring ana rewards
the farmer for such treatment with bounh-
full Yields. II is indigenous 10 the Middle
states and the South. preferring warm sea
son and dry soil There are great many
varieties OF il. the NEST prolific being the
Crowder; but the "biack-eyed l. preferred
fT the table.
Asa renoyator OF the soil. next TO clover,
IL has no equal. Growing with "a heavy
dense foliage, plOughed under just at the
period of poisoning, il makes a splendid
green manure, rotting quickly and p"oduc-
ing lasting effects Ii can be grown for this
purpose on land that will not produce
clover. and that j. n very important item.
'On inferior land that has had a crop of COW
peas turned under. If light sprinkliDg OF
lime is added. venture may safely be made
with clover the following year. IL l. plant
ed about the same time with corn. Ii can
be sOwn for nav, but care must be taken IN
harvesting it properly. If allowed TO
get too ripe the leaves will crumble of
after il is slowed away in the loft; but II cut
when in full blossom, or just as the
Young pods begin TO form, and then
cured like ordinary hay, it will keep well
all the winter Cows eat il with relish, and
tor sheen nothing i equal 10 it-they eat il
up clean, being very fond of il. The seeds
are more nutritious than our ordinary white
beam stock preferring il when cooked 10
corn or meal, while calves are raised on
them with ease where il is desirable 10 wean
early. For the table they are cooked not
only when dry, but also when green, being
a favorite dish on Virginia and Carolina Ia
bles There is a prejudice against ii on the
part of those not familiarwith it, on account
of the dark color il makes VIXEN cooked; but
If the nutritious qualities OF the pea were
fully known no difficulty would be expe-
rienced IN making il staple article OF food.
The COW pea Is worthy OF being intro
duced To every farmer. Its value A. an arti-
Gle of TODD for man and beast, the large
crops Of fodder Tor buslIy VinS) IL produces,
its adaptation 10 the lightest and poorest
soils and its usefulness as a green manurial
crop place it far above many other plants
that are grown 10 its exclusion Ii has no
enemies among the insects. and is in that
particular free from damage. A neayy crop
of il will so completely cover the ground
that not even ray of sunshine can enter.
and il is often necessary to pass over the
vines with a heavy roller in order 10 get
them PlOughed under. Frem twenty 10
forty bushels of the peas are usually pro-
.duced 10 an acre, and il they have been
we'll matured previous to seeding the crop
of hay will be very large. One of the most
important advantages the pea cOnfeTs on
land is the shading il gives, some expert
.enced farmers cOntendins that by this
method il rather improves the soil than
Injuries it, small outlay will enable any
one To try the COW pea and those who hav,
mot grown il should do So.