The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-30

The value of the COW pea to southern
agriculture, says the Picayune, can hardly
be overestimated. the growing realiza-
ton of which fact, however, is evidenced
Nv the quantities planted every year, es-
pecially by our sugar planters, VINO use II
largely in their rotation system, as wei
as forage for their work stock.
The virtues of this legume are mani
fold; its beneficial influences almost un-
limited and its uses varied. Although this
plant has been in use in the south Tor
a number of years, and with excellent
results. still to many, outside the knoWi-
edge Of the fact that cow peas when
turned under, stimulate the soil TO m
creased crop production, or that pea-Vlne
hay is an excellent stock food, the
reasons why are not always so OBVIOUS
The following, with regard to the ad-
Vantages of the cow pea crop, may De
of interest to our readers: ID II IS
nitrogen gatherer, i. e., through the bac~
terra contained in the small tubercles
on its rootlets, it has the property of col
lecting nitrogen from the atmosphere
~ II shades the soils in summer, Keeping
them in a condition most suitable TO the
most rapid "nitrificatiOn'' ana leaves them
friable and loose, in the best condition
for a future crop; 80 1t has a large root
development and hence pumps up from
great depths and large areas, the water
and with it the mineral matter needed
by the plant; "a Its adapubility to all
kinds OF soil, stiffest clays to most por-
Gus sands, fertile aluYial bottoms to
barren upiands; 90 Ii stands the heat
and sunshine OF southern summers,
90 Its rapid growth enables the
farmers in the south to grow two
sown thickly, will by its rapid growth
and shade; effectually smother weeds,
and thus serve as cleansing crop ~
it is the best preparatory crop known
to the southern farmer, every kind or
crop grows well after 1t; 90 on the allu-
vial lands of the Mississippi bottoms,
1t serve to pump OF excessive water
evaporatng it through it great foliage
thus keeping the soil ina condition for
most rapid nitrihcation during the en-
tire growing season; C0) II furnishes
most excellent food, in large quantities,
for both man and animals. With all these
advantages, 1t is no wonder 1t is called
the Glover of the SOUTH" and We're it
used regularly throughout the south as
one of the crops in a regular but short
system of rotation, the soil of this section
would soon rival in fertility their primi-
tive conditions. Every system of prof1ta-
bic farming must sooner or later consist
of a rotation of crops, with at least one
renovating crop in the cycle. The en-
lightened agriculturist of every country is
on the lookout for a valuable leguminous
crop which will be an addition to his
fields and his system.
The sugar planters of South Louisiana
who practice rotation, and ii is very gen
eral. find that no other crop or fertilizer
can compare in results with the COW pea
for the maintenance of production and
fertility Of the soil.
Under the exclusive cotton system much
Oh lDt lduQS Oh the SOllHGTI states nave
become so depleted in fertility and so
deprived of humus as to render uncertain
the profits to be derived from their cult
walton. 1t is therefore a question of para
mount Importance how to restore these
exhausted and WORKOUT soils to their prim-
tive fertility, and the results of several
experiment. stations have shown that this
plant is capable of such accomplishment
AS a food for work stock, in the form
of hay, it is excellent but the greatest
care should be taken in its harvesting,
md otto and nc of fIa LAM
saved as possible, along with the stems,
as the leaves contain a great deal of nj
trogen, white potash predominates in the
stems. When badly secured or subjected
to dampness, fermentation is very liable
to occur, resulting in the development of
potassium nitrate (saltpeter), and active
dinretic, producing very serious and often
fatal results in work stock, illustrations
Of which we frequently come in contact
with.
As the Picayune claims the southern far
mer is rich in the possession of her Cow
pea as typified in the Wonderful Cor
"Unknown) variety. OF the many varie-
ties this doubtless would receive the ne
cessary votes TO entitle it to the claim of
superiority. Tender annual as the pea is
il is a plant indeed of great value, but we
should not forget that we have another
tent that il merits. This hardy frost re-
sisting Legume is Crimson clover Qt has
clover, either of which will grow during
the winter. Making a generous return
just about the time when its worthy COM
peer the pea can be planted with propri-
ETY.. These two clovers together with the
"Wonderfuf' pea puts the Southern far
mer in position to restore the lost fer
tlity of the generous soil that in the hey
day of its richness, elevated a snowy plant
to kingly position and now in the day of
its exhaustion must look upon its de-
thronement All me- Cotton may or it
may not be restored to its former po-
sition in the esteem of the southern far
mer, but of one thing we may assure our
selves. The lands that have been exhaust
ed III the many years of devotion to cot
ton, must be restored to something like
their pristine condition before we can hope
to substitute anything in it's place. No far
mer in any section of the world is better
provided with the means of restoring the
lost fertility of his homogeneous soil so
easily and SO economically, so according
10 the demands and the dictates of nature.
as is our southern farmer Yes. indeed!
he has the Wonderful pea, the Bur clover,
the Crimson clover, the-why name any
more of the score of available plants suited
to the purpose?
God help u.s. and incline our hearts to
a better use of all the various means plac-
ed so easily within our reach, for the bet
terment of our condition, as Sam Jones
might have observed in his vigorous on
slaught on frail mortals multitudinous
Haf~c ffir.ts