The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-05-10
THR COWPEA FOR THE SOUTH.

PomoRotlSE OulIGu SG6GSS department.
of Agriculture, Writes an Interesting
Letter.
Correspondence Of the Progressive Farmer.
OF all the crops that have been tested
in the South for improving the soil,
perhaps there is none that equals the
coWpea. 1t seems to have been espe
ciaIly created for such use in that re
gion. 1t will grow in either rich or
poor soil, clay or sand, and it seems to
flourish whether the season is wet or
dry. 1t is by no means a new crop IN
the South, but the wonder is, that it is
not more largely grown there, as it
surely should be.
The clovers have long been known
as soil improvers, and elsO as valuable
forage crops, and where they will
flourish there is perhaps nothing bst
ter. But they do not succeed in all
parts of the Southern States; this is
especially true of the poor sandy lands.
The summer heat of the warmer parts
of this country is too great for nearly
all kinds Of clover. This just suits the
coWpea, for it delights in hot weather.
Indeed, it is not pea, properly speak
ing, but bean. 1t is exceedingly ten
der and will not endure the slightest
frost; whereas, the true peas will safely
Withstand slight freezing. I do not
mean to say that none Of the clovers
will do we'll in the South, for some of
them do exceedingly well there when
properly treated. Crimson clover, If
sown in the early fall, as cool weather
is approaching, is most suitable crop,
and will grow all winter and make
good forage; or, it may be plowed un-
der to great advantage. However, it
requires fairly good soil to induce q
rank growth, or what is better still,
if plenty Of potash and phosphoric
acid is applied to rather poor soil a few
weeks before the clover seed is sown,
the crop will make astonishing growth,
and consequently, gather large quanti-
ties of nitrogen from the air; thus
turning unproductive land into that
which viii be productive.
There are some lands in the South
that are so poor that clover will not
grow on them unless we'll manured !;
especially is this true of the pine
plains. But even on this almost barren
sand the cowpea will grow a little. /
have seen it tested repeatedly under
such circumstances. It is the custom
of some thoughtful farmers to bring
up their poorer lands by sowing or
drilling in coWpeas, using potash and
phosphoric acid in some of their more
concentrated forms, and then ploWing
under the crop when fully mature, re
peating it for several succeeding years.
After one or two treatments of this
kind 1 have seen the poor pine lands
Of Mississippi and North Carolina 80
improved that fair crops of several
kinds were grown. It is certain that
1t pays to put on plenty of these min
eral forms of plant food; for there is
almost none Of either in these pine
lands, and little that is available in
many other kinds of land. They are
taken up by the pea crop and are kept
In available form for the other crops
that may follow, such as corn, cotton,
potatoes, etc.
A good fertilizer of this kind may be
made OF 400 pounds of kainit, or in
place 100 pounds muriate of potash
and 400 60 600 pounds Of acid phosphate
rock per acre.
1t is a common practice in some Sec
tlon5 Of the South to drop hills of COW
peas along the corn rows about the
time Of the last cultivation. By this
means considerable amount of food
tor man and beast is secured at very
little cost; for the peas make excellent
tood for both; besides the menuriaI
value Of the roots and tops to the soil.
All this is about clear gain.
In orchard and vineyard culture the
coWDea may be made quite an import
ant tacsor. By sowing broadcast or
drilling between the rows about mid
summer there may be grown a consid~
cradle crop which will not interfere
materially with the fruit crop, and
VIII add large quantities of nitrogen
8nu humus to the soil. For an old
''enafd that has been neglected it is a