Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-01-28
FARM AND GARDEN.
MATTERS OF INTEREST TO
ACRICULTURALIS
Some Up-to-Date Hints About Cultivs-
tion of the Soil and Yields Thereof
culture.
Cow-pea (Dolichos sinensia,)


The cow-pea is coming into promi-
hence in the North as we'll as the
South as a plant valuable for green
manuring. A government report says
OF it: There is no other crop which Is
planted so extensively in the South,
both for its hay and its fertilizing
value, and we have found no other
plant which will produce as large an
amount of forage and valuable fertll-
izing material in as short time. IL
may be sown at almost any time dur
ing the summer, will grow on any SOIL
except the most barren, and makes eX-
cellent hay and pasture. Its long deep
roots bring a large amount OF plant
food from the subsoil and leave it near
the surface, where it is available LOT
future crops. There are many varieties
of the plant, which are quite different
in their habit of growth. Some, like
the Unknown and the Clay, produce an
immense growth of vine, and require
long season, while others, like the
pea of the Backwoods," are quite
dwarf and mature in two months from
planting. Seed of most varieties must
be sown every year, though Of some'
like the Red Tory, the seed may be
plowed under in the fall, and the land
sown in oats, when another crop Will
be produced after the oats are harvest
ed. When sown broadcast after wheat,
oats. or other early crop, the running
sorts make a heavy yield of hay,
which. although somewhat difficult to
cure, is of the very best quality. Hay
of this kind is used almost exclusively
to furnish forage for mules on the
sugar plantations Of Louisiana. BY
growing such a crop hay is made at
very small expense, and the SOIL Is
shaded during the driest and hottest
months, and left loose and mellow ana
in the best possible condition for any
future crop. 1t is often desirable TO
plow under some green crop when 1t Is
impossible to give up the land for the
two years necessary to grow crop OF
red clover or melilotus, and in sucn
cases we have no other plant which can
take the place of cow-peas. Many
USE luS uWdil NoiiS AoN
planting between the rows of corn or
cotton at the last blowing, as when
grown in this way they do not inter-
fere with the growing crop and will
give fair yield of seed. The decaying
vines make a most excellent covering
for the soil during the winter, or they
may be used for late pasture. The roots
penetrate the soil as deeply as those OF
red clover, fact which makes the crop
especially valuable for heavy soils re-
quiring drainage. There is no other
crop which will furnish the same
amount of material for blowing under
at so small COST When land is not
in use for other crops for even two
months during the summer it will al
ways pay well to seed it with peas, as
the seed or forage which can be gath
cred will fully pay the cost Of seeding
and leave the fertilizing value Of the
crop as clear profit. Seed may be sown
at any. time from May to August, the
amount per acre depending upon the
variety and time of sowing. If one of
the large varieties is planted in hills
early in the season two quarts will
plant an acre, but If dwarf varieties
are sown broadcast in August not less
than bushel should be used.