The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1898-05-14

horse breeder of St. Louis cCunty, and
says his most sanguine expectations
were more than realized. He planted
two bushels to the acre In ground much
of which was too poor to grow any
thing else, and harvested in hay over
two tons to the acre. He says that in
average good ground the yield would
be much greater. The seed was drilled
in June and hay cut in August. It was
allowed to cure in shock and sub
sequently put under shelter. The doc
tor says his mares and colts relish this
COW pea hay even more than they do
shelled oats or clover, leaving q full
feed of the latter to indulge in it. To
illustrate how his horses took to this
forage, he said a mare his sons were
shaping up to exhibit at the county
fair whenever turned out to exercise
in vacant lot in which some of this
hay that had been damaged was
thrown, would eat of it SO persistently
that they feared she would founder.
The value of the cow pea as q soil
renovator has been thoroughly ex-
plotted by the agricultural press and
experimental stations. Formerly it
was thought that the roots of this
legume tapped reservoir of nitrogen
in the subsoil, but now it is generally
understood that this class of plants has
the power of acquiring free nitrogen
from the atmosphere. 1t will grow on
soils too poor to get a stand of
clover, hence it has an advantage
over the latter plant. In this section
it can be planted as late as the middle
of June and will make hay crop if it
gets one good rain. If planted in June
it will not mature until August, after
the rush of summer work is over, and
as at this time we have little rain, it is
altogether a very convenient plant to
handle. 1t is like clover, hard to save
unless the weather is propitious. 1t
must not be put away at all green or
damp, or it will be sure to mold The
cost of seed has been drawback to the
| general introduction of this forage
plant. DR.. McAllister paid as high as
So a bushel for that he planted last
year. However, he said he hoped to
get it for ST. this season
| A few months ago wrote an article
on broom corn and since have received
several letters asking where the seed
could be bought. 1t will readily be
understood that it would not be bust
ness to give any particular dealer
free advertising. However, the
cow pea can be had without
much difficulty. 1t might pay farm
err, wishing to give it a trial, to in
duce some of his neighbors to go in
with him, and thus, by sending in a
large order, get very material reduc-
ton in the price. If one wishes to
grow the pea for hay he must order
an erect variety-the three best being
the Unknown, Clay and Whip-poor
will, the last variety named being,
think, the most popular. In the south
the best stock pea for field grazing for
either cattle or hogs is the black. II
will remain ON the ground all winter
without injury. For an ''all purpose
pea the Unknown is said to be the
best.
About six years ago l saw 4t-acre
field of the COW pea growing on the
farm of Mr.. Joe Lucas. 1t had beer
drilled. the stand was perfect, and the
field free from weeds, and altogether
it was indeed beautiful sight TIL,
experience of years has convinced Mr.
Lucas, according to DR.. McAllister
that the COW pea is the best forag'
plant he can grow for his thorough
breds. 1t might be we'll for many O
us farmers to give it trial on small
scale, at least.-George r. Henderson
! Agricultural Epitomist.