The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-05-28
PLANT COWPEAS.

Among the evidences of an improved
nj progressive agriculture I'm the south
none 8 more prominent OF manifest than
the widely extended culture OF the cow
pea l. is quite true that for many years
there has been current belief that this
crop would Improve land and a few farm
ers have been extensive growers for a
long time. But 81 is only within the last
ten or fifteen years that the crop has be-
come an important feature of our south
ern farming. Indeed. the merits OF the
cow-pes are becoming known and II Is be-
ing planted in the north and west-in-
vadiug the territory In which red clover
has long held sway as the great soil reno
vator and domestic hay plant
The northern and Northwestern farmer
is quicker TO know "A good thing when he
sees IL than his southern brother. and T.
make most Of IL. This ~ well Illustrated
in the eases Of lucerne and cattail millet.
the former under the name OF alfalfa
and the latter as pearl millet." now be-
ing lat home all over the west. and no
doubt most OF the farmers out there be
lieve that they "found them first.
Many progressive farmers I'm the cotton
states have been all lheir lives trying 10
grow clover. Books have been written TO
prove that our soils and climate are well
adapted 10 clover, and telling how 70
10 say against red clover. but / esteem
the cowpca 10 he a far more valuable
plan. in southern agriculture than red
clover can ever aspire TO be. Red clover
will succeed fairly well on red or lime
soils thai are rich enough not TO particu-
Larry need renovating. But the cowpea is
suited 20 any and every soil, whether high
or low. rich or poor. II is emphatcally
the poor farms friend and the fright
a, - -.
advantage of being able 20 make a full
crop IN ninety 10 100 days. II may be.
and mostly is. planted as "A catch crop"
between a crop Of small grain and a sue
ceeding crop OF small grain or some thing
else IL may be planted I'm the fields OF
growing corn. II may DC used (the bunch
VARIETY 10 til IN missing plans" in The
cotton field or tobacco field. IL can be
planted IN out-Of-the-way corners. II re-
auires no elaborate preparation OF the
soil. nor careful planting. although II re-
spends literally t. good preparation and
culture.
The cowpea can be made twice as val
uabie u the south as red clover ever
vas 10 the north. II makes better hay.
and as much of 1t n three months than
rcd clover would make In better ground
Ga twelve or eighteen months. The hay
IS good for every animal that cats hay.
Il does not sallvate whether green or cured
The ripe peas make wholesome and ex-
ceedfnglv nutritious food for man or
beast. children or chickens. prince or
peasant
Now Is the time TO plant the cowpea.
From MAY 18th until July 1st. "A period
OF six weeks. IS the accepted time. Plant
in corn when knee 20 waist-high. and
cultivate: sow IN the corn at last plow-
Ing and not cultivate. Sow On wheat
and cat stubb.c. either in rows and cul-
tyatc. or broadcast and not cultivate.
/ believe more paase. or more vines. may
be produced 10y planting the seed in threes
foot rows and sweeping out orce or
twice. than by sowing broadcast. When
sswn ia drills. one and "A half pecks OF
seed will give - good a stand on an acre
as tive pecks sOwn broadcast and har-
r3wcd ia Economy ia seeding viii be
--uu. object this year. as seed peas are
scarce. and many are Inferior. ana many
in rows and cultivate. In every case the
stuhhIe land should DO wei piowcd be
lore planting.
On some light soils with n good season
Ia the same. tine getaway harrow Will 90
the work of preparing very well. When
planted I'm rows and cultivated, there viii
n- more pea Wines. or peas. than grass.
when sOwu broadcast, the grass that
springs up with the peas Will intcrmix
n.th the pea vines ami make the curing
easier The earlier cuwpcas are planted
the more vines. the later planted. the
more peas.
A good crop Of cowpea vines should not
BE- pIowcd under. That IS not the way
10 utilize ;he cowpea 10 the highest ad-
vantage Let the vines grow until in
FUN glory 81 blooming and a few ripe
pods commence To- show. then q them
down and cure into hay. The farmer
who piows under fun crop Of pea vines.
night fust as reasonably turn under
cruT, OF wheat or oai-. His land viii
receive a great benefit. but his COWS and
his horses viii receive nothing Manuring
land by turning under a ton or two Of