The Atlanta constitution., 1894-05-14
Cow Peas VS.. Corn.

Cow Peas VS.. Corn.
The question has several times been asked
IF late, Does it injure a crop of corn to
plant it in COW peas? and if yea, how
much?" The question is very timely and
practical. While we do not recall any
accurate experiment made with view to
finding whether peas injure corn, and how
much, we think it quite certain that yes
would be the correct answer to the first
part of the question. 1t has been the prac-
tice, time out of mind for the southern
farmer to plant peas in the cornfield. In
deed, very many farmers never plant peas
anywhere except in the growing corn
fields. 1t was the practice of our fathers
and has been handed down to US as
goodly inheritance. 1t is a very common
practice in trucking, market gardening
and ordinary kitchen gardening to plant
the same ground in close succession, the
second crop often being planted and well
under way before the full maturity of the
first BY many most successful gardeners
the practice is considered to be essential
to the highest success In vegetable culture.
But it does not follow that the first crop
as not injured-more or lesS-by the sue
Ceeding crop, when both occupy the land
at the same time, or during the latter part
of the growing period of the first. 1t is
true that the pea draws upon the air
for the greater part of the nitrogen nee
essary TO its growth and development. But
il also requires as much phosphoric acid
corn plant: and these must be drawn en-
tirey from the soil. So, then, if peas be
planted among the corn during the growing
period of the latter. both crops will be
drawing the soil for precisely the same
elements of plant food the same time
OF course the earlier the peas are planted
the longer VIII be the period during which
the struggle will continue. If you throw
grain to the pigs and then call the chickens
TO the feast the loss TO the pigs Will de-
pend on how early during its progress the
fowls claim their snare. We think there is
not the least doubt about the matter. If
peas do not injure growing corn. then grass
and other weeds would not. Yet we insist
that it is good practfce-eXcelient practice
TO plant peas in the corn fled. TIE injury
10 the corn, if the peas be not planted be-
fore the corn is knee-hgh, must be very
much less than the value Of the peas pro-
duced. including the benefit received by
the land We have always believed, how
ever, that when peas are planted alongside
OF the rows of corn, or in "the step be-
tween the corn hills, the corn suffers
greater loss than when planted in seps
rate row midway between the rows of
corn. This plan admits of cultivating DOth
corn and peas more effectively, and, be-
sides, the peas are not near enough to the
corn plants to compete for the fertilizer
placed for the especial benefit of the latter.
Doubtless the less harmful methOd-to the
cOrn-and the most beneficial to the land.
j
at the last powing, or two TO three weeks
later than the time at which the earlier
or intercultural planting is made. Through
out the cotton region this lay by" planting
of peas gives still ample time i'll which
TO mature a crop of both peavines and peas.
A very good practice, which we have
seen is TO plant a row of peas In the mid
dies at the second pfoWing, and sow broad
cast at the last piowing, the first planting
being of a late maturing variety and the
last a quick maturing sort
Now is the time to commence sowing.
Immediately after cotton planting comes
the time for planting the pea, cOntinu-
ing to July 1st. The earlier planted make
the most vine; the later planted possibly
a many peas, but less vine. The earlier
planted require less seed; the later planted
require more seed. 1t hardly pays to SOW
peas later than July 18th, except in the far
south. Unknown and other late bearing
kinds, if planted in July, will produce very
Itue vine. We have observed the "Un-
known" especially, when sown as late as
the middle OF July, barely run" at all,
but stand upright and bunchy, like the
NhippoorwiI or speckled pea. Don't make
the common mistake to sow peas on poor
land without fertilizing. They respond as
gratefully to manure as does any crop.
Happily, however, peas require only ACID
phosphate and sometimes pOtash-the
cheaper element of plant food. Two hun
dred pounds of acid phosphate per acre and
Con sandy land especially 100 pounds of
kainit, or twenty-five pounds of muriate
of potash, will be a good dose for peas and
will generally induce the growth of one
ton of peaVine hay per acre.
We would not think Of sowing peas with
y view to turning under the vines when at
their best. They should either be mown
End converted into hay, or pastured off by
rattle and hogs in October.
r. j. REDDING.