The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-01-01
COW PEAS.
A Crop Specially Adapted to the South
ern and Central States.


ern and Central States.
The cow pea is kind of pea named,
botanically, Dokchos. It's, therefore,
not a pea, and one who sees it grow
ing will at once distinguish its beam
like character. by the form of its long
round pod and its heart-shaped leaves.
1t is Southern crop and would hardly
pay to grow anywhere north of Ken
lucky, although it has been grown for
fodder in New Jersey. The grain par
takes of the character of bean in
flavor and nutritious quality, and will
make a most valuable crop for fatten-
ing pork in those Southern localities
where the main meat supply is drawn
from the West This plant is one of
the leguminous order, and hence pos
,sesses much the same value as reno
vator of the soil and as a green manure,
to be plowed in, as clover does. Re-
cent experience with this crop confirms
our belief that the cow pea is one of the
most valuable of all Southern fodder
and grain crops, both for its various
uses and for its convent adaptation to
so many circumstances. And we would
call the attention of Southern readers
and those in the North who may feel
inclined to try this plant to its exceed
ingly great and varied value.
1t may be grown as special crop,
as peas or beans are, in suitable CHM
ates. As peas and the common field
bean are not suited to the hot Southern
sun, this plant seems to be special
gift of nature for the benefit of the
Southern planter. 1t is q misfortune
that along with many other gifts OF
bounteous nature he too often neglects
this with the others. A few farmers,
recognizing tie great value of the COW
pea, turn it to every possible use, and
as a special crop grow forty or fifty
bushels per acre and save the stalks for
foddering sheep or mules. 1t is, in
fact, far more valuable crop than
corn, having better feeding qualities,
as well as being less exhaustive of the
ground. 1t may be sown at the last
blowing of the corn, and will produce
at least half a crop, and viii make an
excellent pasture for pigs, bringing
them into the best condition for fat
tening after the corn has been gath
cred. s.-
One of its most valuable uses is as a
green manure, being plowed under
when IN full growth. This meets the
greatest need of Southern farmers,
which is better supply of manure.
Manure is the scarcest thing to be seen
for nf
it may be gathered during the short
winter, when the mules are treated to
a mess of corn shucks and few ears,
as d change from gnawing the stalks
left in the field; and this manure is
helped out very sparsely by the addi-
ton OF few bushels of cottonseed.
Almost everything from Southern
farm is sold. Cotton and the cotton
seed, the tobacco, and quite often most
of the corn and fodder are disposed OF
to pay for fertilizers and food. In this
case the cow pea may be made most
valuable to pillow in upon TIE old fields,
and many of the more enterprising
farmers are doing this instead of leav-
ing the. land to be scorched by the sun
and scored and quilted by the rains.
Like clover, . crop of cow peas can be
grown very cheaply. 1t may be
pastured off or be turned under,
or it may be cut for hay, of
which it makes an excellent kind
and fit for all kinds of stock
and is readily eaten by them. In any
of these ways it can be turned to ac-
count as manurial crop and so meet
the most pressing necessities for
the farmer in the South. Green
manuring by the help of this crop will
be one of the most available means for
restoring the soil after cotton growing.
It is thought that, as the lint of the
cotton is pure carbon, it may be wholly
consumed and returned to the atmos-
phere from which it was derived, this
is not an exhausting crop. But for
every pound Of lint produced, three
pounds Of seed are taken from the soil,
and cotton-seed is exceedingly rich in
all the elements of fertile soil; nitro
gen, potash and phosphoric acid: And
as the seed is now mostly sold to the
oil mills, the cotton crop is really one
of the most exhaustive of all that are
grown. Cow peas are rich in all these
three elements, and if the planter will
alternate his cotton with COW peas,
which thrive so web upon his soil and
in his climate, the labor will be repaid
most literally in the larger crops OF
cotton grown and in the saving OF the
land from damage. IN. K. Times.