Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-08-23
has been the salvation Of some farmers;


received as much attention In other
sections as it deserved. 1t was be-
lieved until recently that is was adapt
ed to the south only, but farmers In
Vermont and Canada report success
with it, and in the Middle States ex-
periments show that it thrives as well
as in the south. In fact it will grow
on any land, or in any climate, where
corn will thrive, and it may be planted
in rows and cultivated, or may be
broadcasted. About the best method
for growing the crop when the object
is to improve the land is to sow the
seed broadcast and harrow it in, fol
lowing the harrow with roller. The
land must be deeply plowed and made
fine. If manure is used 1t will grow
on almost all soils. 1t must, indeed, be
very poor land that will not grow at
least partial crop. 1t is really bean
and thrves best when the warm
season sets in, but any time from frost
to frost (spring to falD will answer
for the crop, and if intended for plow
ing under only it will furnish two crops
if frost does not appear early in the
fall, but of course, two seedlings VIII
also be necessary. AS a green manu-
rial crop, or when intended for hay,
| it is turned under or moved when the
seed pods begin to turn yellow. If in
tended for seed the crop should be
grown by planting the seed in rows
wide enough apart to permit of cul'
tivation. dropping two or three seeds
i1 q place, and two feet apart in the
rows.
AS the COW pea is leguminous plant
it has, like clover, the power of storing
nitrogen. This is accomplished by
bacteria, or micro-organisms, which
form nodules on the roots, the nitro
gen being derived from the free air OF
the atmosphere and converted into nit
ric acid. The nearer to maturity
reached by the plant the more nitrogen
stored, and nothing will be gained,
therefore, by plowing it under too
early, or when the plants are very
young. Whenever crop is plowed
under it will be of advantage to broad.
cast fine air-slaked lime over the sur
face of the land, which will be carried
down by the rains and assist in neu
| traliZing the carbonic acid formed by
the decomposition of the plants. AS
all leguminous plants are what may
| be termed ''lime-feeders," the lime VIII
| assist the succeeding crop of COW peas.
| From ten to twenty bushels of lime
! per acre may be used. OF the fertil
| iZerS wood ashes are excellent, but
sulphate of potash is also one of the
best. a fertilizer composed of 2OC
pounds, sulphate of potash, 100 pounds
F., nitrate of soda. and 100 pounds acidu
lated phosphate will produce a large
crop if the season is favorable. The
COW pea can endure considerable
drought and will seldom fail if given
even n partial opportunity. 1t thrives
well on both clay and sandy soils, and
when once it makes Il start and is cul'
tivated sufficiently to keep it clear OF
weeds and grass until it gets under
way, it can take care of itself, as ii
soon shades the soil and crowds out
the intruders.
About one bushel of seed will plant
an acre. but the quantity depends upon
how thick the grower desires the
plants. II grown on poor land it Will
show wonderful improvement if plowed
under, and the land will be in con
| dton for corn with the aid of a small
quantity of mineral fertilizer. but too
much from COW peas should not be eX.
pected in Il single season. The COW
| pea should enter in the regular rotation
year after year The seed is picked by
| hand. the long pods being put in bags
| and carried to the barn, to be threshed
! by failing. separate plot should be
| planted if seed is desired. The yield
is from Is to 20 bushels per acre,
according to the land and conditions
I Hogs. cows. sheep and poultry enjoy
/ the hay and pods, the fowls shelline
| the pods for the seeds. For hay II
should be moved when the pods turr
yellow, left until the next day, then
| put up in cocks. In day or two more
| store the hay under shelter or stack 1t
| capping the stack to shed water
| Horses also like the hay, but it is
! special food for cows and sheep. II
/ lS UOubtl vi IL WV peas NHh ''hhPNNN
with clover as hay crop. but for green
manurial purposes they cannot be sur
| passed. The COW pea, however, can
/ be grown in three months. while clover
is biennial plant. The seeds are
equal to beans in every respect: are
fully as nourishing and are one of the
most wholesome foods known. both for
] a.
he so easily grown and are capable Of
comforting so much benefit on the far
mer they should he placed In the list
of staple crops. s.-Phlladelphia Record
Poultry Notes.
Dogs and eats should not be allowed
to stray into the chicken yards.