St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-05-01
FARMER AND PLANTER,
ABOUT COW PEAS.
How They Should be Planted az q Lam,
- RaRnNRfnr.

| How They Should be Planted as q Land
| ReRovator.
/ They should be cultivated in drills,
not sown broadcast, as renovator of
land.
/ The objections to sowing peas broad
cast are:
/ l. If sown among corn at the last
/ plowing, it is usually done too early to
| permit the corn to receive the neces-
sary cultivation, and too late for the
peas to mature properly before frost.
/ Q. 1t sown after wheat or oats have
been harvested, they are likewise too
Hate. More than this, the time devoted
| to sowing is usually needed on culti-
waited crops.
5. The vines are dwarfed for lack of
proper cultivation. Consequently peas
should never De soWn, except on rich
land, to '1be h'o5Wn as hay.
A pea crop, to give good results,
should be properly stimulated. A per-
tztect fertilizer contains three elements
nitrogen, phosphoric acid and pot
ash. Acid phosphate and lsainit con-
tain respectively the two last. Peas
draw the needed nitrogen from the air,
and consequently do not need direct
application of nitrogenous manures,
such as stable, guano, etc. Hence by
an application of the two last elements,
and by growing and turning crop of
peas in connection Herewith, the first
(nltrogen), which is by far more costly
than either of the other two, can vir-
tually be grown. BY noting this fact
and acting accordingly, farmers can
reap an immense advantage
AS a proper stimulant for the peas, I
suggest an application of 800 pounds of
acid phosphate and 400 pounds kainit
per acre, sown broadcast and plowed
under about March Is. Double this
quantity can safely be used. Early in
April lay off IN drills eight feet apart,
preferable in line with the sun at two
o'clock, and drop corn eight to twelve
inches apart, being half the distance
usually required when the drills are
four feet apart.
Corn requires perfect fertilizer, and |
consequently it will be necessary to
strew a proper quantity of stable ma
nure in the drill. After crop of pea
vines has been grown and turned un-
der, no further application of nitro
genous manures will be needed. An
occasional pea crop should be turned
under.
From the 1st to the 10th of June COW
peas should be planted in drills mid
way between the corn rows. They
should be thinl ed to one vine, six
inches apart. The plants should be
pulled up not cut off.
The Wonderful or. Unknown pea
should be planted about May 90, and
the plants left one foot apart. Some
experiment as to distance, from six
inches to eight feet in the drill. may be
made with both kinds of peas. If you
wish to grow peas, they should have
distance; if vines, they may be thick
er. The Clay and Wonderful are be-
lieved to be the best varieties for all
purposes.
Cultivate thoroughly until the vines
become too large to work.
Early in the fall, preferably before
srost, adopt necessary measures for
under the corn stalks and pea
7ines. Then sow from one to two BUSH
lis OF wheat per acre. Seventy-five
bushels of corn, and from SO to 40
bushels of peas can thus easily be
crown per acre, and from 25 to 40 of
wheat. Clover seed may be sown on
he wheat about April 1, and har-
owed in. Every farmer should try at
east two acres on the above plan !,
}or. Farm and Ranch