The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-29
FARM AND
GARDEN ~
INTERESTS
Cow Peas and Fertility.
Philadelphia Record.


The COW pea has long been known In
the Southern States a renovator of soils
and it will grow where clover will not
thrive. 1t is really a bean and the black
eyed white is largely used as food, being
cooked in the same modes as white beans.
and is used both in the green stage and
when dry. the pods, however, not having
any value for the table. The cow pea be-
longs to the family of legumes. TO which
belong also the ordinary beans. garden
peas. vetches. cloves, ETC., and all of
these plants have the power of deriving
nitrogen from the atmosphere, through the
agency of minute bacteria, which form nod
ules on the roots. At one time it was be-
heved that the leguminous plants derived
nitrogen from the atmosphere through the
leaves. but it is now known that the free
nitrogen or ammonia brought down by the
rains is converted into nitric acid, the bill
lions OF little creatures in the soil known
as nitrogen bacteria" preparing the food
for the plants when the conditions are IA
vorable.
The cow pea has been known to produce
as much as $1,000 pounds of green ma
terial per acre. Fields have also yielded
as high as thirty-hve bushels of seed per
acre. These yields may be considered maxi
mum, however as 10000 pounds of green
material twenty bushels of seed are
OF hay per acre may be secured when the
crop is grown for hay. The cow pea does not
usually begin to take up nitrogen until the
leaves develop, for which reason a small
allowance of fertilizer should be applied
when seeding, in order TO force early
growth. If the leaves are yellow about fifty
pounds or more of nitrate of soda should
be applied At the Louisiana experiment
station it was found that an acre of aver
age cow peas contained siXty-fve pounds OF
nitrogen, Ill pounds potash and twenty
pounds of phoSphoric acid, worth, fer
tliZer, about $l4. The roots contained eight
pounds nitrogen, eighteen pounds potash
and five pounds phosphorc acid, worth
about $3.50 more, or total of about $3.50
fertilizer. This estimate varies accord
ing to the yield An excellent mixture as a
fertilizer, recommended by the North Caro-
lima experiment farm, per acre, is 300
pounds acid phosphate and 100 pounds
muriate of potash. Should the plant not
have green appearance use fifty pounds
nitrate of soda, mixed with earth and
worked in between the rows with harrow,
the acid phosphate and potash TO be broad
casted and narrowed after blowing.
Experiments at the Alabama experiment
station show that the early Brown Dent,
New Era, Early Bullock, Red Ripper
Crowder and selected black varieties give
the largest yields in seeds in bushels, and
the Wonderful, Red Ripper, Whipporwin
Clay and Iron the largest yields of hay.
The largest average for three years in hay
quality of hay differs according 10 the
variety. There is but little difference in
yield between drilling and broadcasting the
seed, in some cases the drilling, and in
others the breadcasting giving the better
results.
The labor of harvesting the seed has been
an obstacle, as the cost of picking the
pods is equal to one-half the crop Other
possible methods are: Cutting the vines
with a reaper when most of the pods are
ripe and running them through q thresh-
ing machine; failing the vines. using a
peavine picking machine, should such be
invented.
The vines should be nearly matured when
harvested. Long exposure TO sunshine
causes the leaflets (the most nutritious por-
tions) to Drop hence the hay should be
cured in its own shade; that is, with as
little exposure as practicable OF the mass
of the hay. One method is to NOW i'm
mediately after the morning dew is off,
leaving the vines undisturbed for eight
hours. Immediately raking, hauling and
storing the partycured hay in a small,
tight house, packing three feet deep, cover
ing with other dry hay and closing the
house, but such method may germinate too
much heat. 1t is believed that TO cut and
cure in windows. not allowing the hay
TO become too dry to shake off the leaves,
Is as good as any other method Curing
must be done in fair weather and the hay
must be carefully observed during curing,
as everything depends upon observation
Cow peas have been grown as far north
as New England. In this section there
should be no difficulty with the crop. For
plowlng under both an early and late crop
may be used. The crop will grow on soils
that will not produce corn or other grain
and will flourish we'll on corn ground
From one-half to one bushel of seed per
acre may be used. Sometimes the nodules
will be found on young plants, bat not as a
rule. PloW deep and harrow the soil fine
Lime may be used If the soil is somewhat
acid. BY using cow peas for restoring fer
tility the cost of nitrogen in fertilizers NAV
be eliminated, and nitrogen is the most
expensive of fertilizing substances there
can be great saving by using the COW
pea. Planting may begin at any time after
the ground becomes warm, the best time 10
commence seeding being when the annie
trees begin to bloom.