St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-05-08
FARMER AND PLANTER.
ABOUT COW PEAS.

How They Should be Planted ~ Lad
RenoyatOr.
They should be cultivated in drills,
not sown broadcast, Is . renovator Of
land.
The objections to sowing peas broad
cast are:
1. If sown among corn ut the last
blowing, it is usually done too early to
permit the corn TO receive the neces-
sary cultivation, and too late for the
peas tc mature properly before frost.
2. If sown after wheat or oats have
been harvested, they are likewise too
late. More than this, the time devoted
to sowing is usually needed on Guilt
vstcd crops
8. The vines are dwarfcd for lack Of
proper cultivation. Consequently peas
should never be sown, except ON rich
land. to be mown as hay.
A pea crop, to give good results.
should be properly stimulated. A per-
feet fertilizer contains three elements
nitrogen, phosphoric acid and pot
ash. Acid phosphate and kainit con-
SAklu A~SkNCtANSAy NAlC tWO 1sAS~ Noo
draw the needed nitrogen from the air,
and consequently do not need direct
application of nitrogenous manures,
such as stable, guano, etc. Hence by
IN application of the tw, last elements,
and by growing and turning q crop of
peas in connection Herewith, the first
(ritrogcn), which is by far more costly
asthAp of 1,n vi
tually be grown. BY noting this fact
and acting accordingly, farmers can
reap an immense advantage.
As proper stimulant for the peas, /
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 balf the distance
usually required when the drills are
four feet apart
Corn requires perfect fertilizer, and
consequently it will be necessary to
strcw a proper quantity of stable ma
nurc in the drill. After . crop of pea
vines has been grown and turned un-
der, no further application of nitro
gcnous manures will be needed. An
occasional pea crop should be turned
under.
From the 1st to the 10th of juno COW
peas should be planted in drills mid
way between the corn rows. They
should be thinned 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
or. The Clay and Wonderful arc be-
lievcd 10 be the best varieties for all
purposes.
Cultivate thoroughly until the vines
become too large to work.
Early in the fall, preferably before
frost, adopt necessary measures for
turning under the corn stalks and pea
vines. Then SOW from one to two bush
els of wheat per acre. Seventy-five
bushels of corn, and from 80 to 40
bushels of peas can thus easily be
grown per acre, and from IS to 10 of
wheat. Clover seed may be sown on
the wheat about April I, and har-
rowcd in. Every farmer should try at
least two acres on the above plan.-
Cor. Farm and Ranch.