The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-04-17
AgriCn ire.
COW PEAS AS Az RESToRER

Not even clover surpasses the COW
~, rs a soil renovator. The most
bsd7v worn and abused soil may be
o1icFlv brought to condition for
nroftable production by planting a
succession of pea crops upon it. Nor
are the best results obtained by
moving under the pea vines when
Green. Careful experiments made at
the Georgia Station show:
/. That the best disposition of a
crop of field peas is to convert the
vines into hay.
3. The next best is to permit the
meas to ripen and gather them Cor
Dasture them).
3. Turning the pea vines under
Green gave the poorest economic re
suits.
Of the capacity of the COW pea as a
fertiIizing agent, Prof. Stubbs, of the
louisiana Experiment Station, says:
Valuable as this plant is for its vine
and fruit as food, its superlative ex-
ceIlence lies in the property which
it has of restoring worn soils. This
property it shares with all legumi-
nous plants, but it surpasses them all
in producing the maximum results
in minimum of time. Clover tre-
foil, lupine and alfalfa are used in
different countries as soil renOvatOrs.
They are planted in the fall or spring
and occupy the ground the entire
season or longer for good results. In
the South the COW pea is planted in
the late spring or early summer and
the crops of vines or peas are har-
vested or buried for fertilizing pur-
poses in early fall. The growth and
development of this plant is both
rapid and enormous, particularly
when planted on good land.
Much more might be written to
the great value of the pea crop. Sum-
npg up its chief merits we have:
I The pea will thrive upon every
variety of soil and will grow on land
too poor to grow clover.
?. 1t will produce a heavy and rich
crop t. be returned to the soil in a
shorter period than any other green
manuring crop.
3. On the same land in one year
two crops can be grown, but it re
quircs two years for clover to pro
duce a hay crop, so it will be seen
that four crops of peas may be grown
in the same time as one crop of
clover.
4. The pea crop feeds lightly upon
the soil but largely upon the at
nOsphere appropriating nitrogen
through the agency of the bacteria
that infest it's roots.
). 1t is one of the best preparatory
crops for wheat, as it leaves the soil
IN excellent condition, which is an
essential element in the growing of
wheat.
g. The rapidity of it's growth makes
It the only crop in the South that
may be used as a manurial crop be-
tween the harvesting of grain and
the sowing of it on the same land.
T. 1t grows as vigorously as clover
and IN connection with that plant
makes the South particularly rich in
those vegetable agents that improve
the soil.
!. 1t may be grown in connection
with the corn crop, furnishing almost
Smuch nutriment as the corn crop
'Set, with a positive benefit to the
land.
" 1t is a substantial factor in the
production of cheap beef, pork, milk
and butter.
H. 1t doubles the capacity of the
.tnd for wintering stock, and gives
uOQble the material for making ma
nUre heaps.
Il. The CALLED and wasted places in
south can be more quickly and
ueaply restored by a judicious Guilt
,Suon Of the pea, and by proper rota-
'On OF ether crops with it, than in
any other way.
. T. 81 adding humus it preserves
- Nc -N-i1,ity Of the soil and so enables
''s cEo1.~ to resist droughts.
10. In" vines of COW peas furnish
VERY best material for ensilage.
-Ae composition of COW peas
h. pea vine hay shows that they
All very high feeding value for
u Domestic animals.