The Progress., 1894-10-06
Peas and Cowpeas for the North.

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Peas and Cowpeas for the North.
The value of peas as a fodder crop
is just beginning to be appreciated by
northern and western farmers, writes
G. S. Walters in Germantown Tele-
graph. Until very recently the cow
peas were supposed to be fit only for
southern land where the grass would
not grow we'll. But we are now pretty
we'll satisfied from experience that
cowpeas should not be restricted to
the south, but there is real mission
for them to perform in the north. But
the mission is not the same probably |
in the two sections. In the south cow
peas are essentially for a forage crop,
but in our colder climates they are
more valuable for turning under as
green manure. Clover and corn grow
so rapidly and luxuriantly here that
it will be some tim srsSs't e better for
age plants can be obtained. STILL
cowpeas can and have been cultivated
in the north for forage crops with re-
suits that are highly satisfactory The
cowpeas are rapid growers, and in
eighty-fve days from sowing, the crop
is a large one and ready for turn
ing under. As fertilizer this crop
ranks almost equal to clover, but we
have to wait eighteen months for
good crop of the latter to turn under
) The cowpeas are sown early in the
spring as soon as the land is warm
enough for seeds, and they spring up
rapidly and mature without any dan
ger from being killed by extreme
weather. In the case of clover, how
ever, considerable risk is run, and
there is danger of the whole crop be-
ing killed either in the middle Of the
S summer or from winter cold. BESIDES,
: clover is hard to "catch" on most soils,
: whereas cowpeas do we'll on any kind
!, of a fair soil. The contrast between
s the two crops for green manure is thus
Il all in favor of the cowpeas. The
vines of the cowpeas are large
l. enough to separate the soil in which
o they are plowed so that they induce
q porosity in very thick, heavy land
a The vines rot and decompose rapidly
ID so that within few months after the.
e. have been turned under the green ma
t, nure is almost ready to be absorbed b
t. the plants. Two bushels OF seed t
a. the acre will yield very large Gro
le even in our cold states, and the vine
We should grow over two feet high. l
n the south the pea vines have consider
ne able feeding value that nearly q
ly farmers avail themselves OF &c
ht sheep the cowpeas might prove OF col
m, siderable value in the north. We hav
Nv lust had it demonstrated to us at tt
lot experiment stations that there is n
he better food for sheep than our con
I'd. mon garden peas The pea vines al
Ter all rich in nutritious food, and t.
t . peas themselves contain elements tn
r." can not be supplied in any more co
ut, yenient form. Those interested
te- raising peas for sheep should sow Il
The field with about two bushels OF tt
on small Canada field pea with one bush
as of oats to the acre. About as NAL
peas are obtained in this way as
thew were sown alone. The resu
are much better by mixing, for t
, om oats will yield fair crop after t
1 Wv. peas have been gathered. The she
III should be fed most Of the crop gree
but when the vines are cured and ke
' ase for winter use they eat nearly ever
,rn thing up, including vines and
and peas.