The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-06-17
Agriculture.
GROWING THE cow PEA.

70 o.. he subject, as the crop is no
5oub. yreat land improver. There
,re s e, however, who are inclined
70 tn X that peas can be grown on
he sa.e land year after year, and
;mpror the soil without using
,nv plant food. This is a mistake.
Cow peas, like every other crop, will
mUoverish the soil, if we do not use
fertilizer to prevent it.
NITROGEN FROM PEAS.
Peas. as we all know, make nitrogen
h forming nodules on the roots,
tough they draw a great deal of pot
a and phosphoric acid from the soil;
hereas, if the pea be grown year af-
tr year on same land, after a few
rars they will leave the soil much
Oorer than they found it, if no fer
sizer be used. I prefer the COW pea
any other crop for improving the
oil. though I do not expect the soil
be improved unless properly treat
d All farmers know nitrogen is the
rast expensive part of a complete fer
Irer; this we do not have to buy if
grow the COW pea on a large
SALE
Cow peas like every other crop do
ktter on well pulverized soil, though
ley can be grown on land that clover,
&C., Will not, and improve the land. /
Eually raise fine peas sown broadcast
tter wheat, say about the last of June
nd first of July using in advance pot
Eh and phosphoric acid. I use a good
lsal of the above when wheat is sown
\ the fall putting enough for wheat
md peas at one time.
GROW PEAS AFTER WHEAT.
After a number of years of expe-
isnce with the COW pea, I am conf
tEt the cotton farmers would be far
bser off if they grew more COW peas,
Einever miss the time it takes to SOW
lem. Almost every farmer at the
Suth, no matter whether he rents or
MS land, raises a little wheat. Now
fter the wheat is cut and removed
hom the field, it would pay in more
nys than one, if he would SOW this
nme land down in an early variety of
ne COW pea. 1t pays far better to
lOW land first, harrow well, then SOW
be peas, say from one to one and a
hlt bushels to the acre; narrowed in
I'll viii make far better peas, than
tie ones plowed in. The more the
Eound is pulverized by narrowing the
letter, but as June and July are very
busy months for the cotton farmer, he
can plow the peas in with plow and
make good crops. improving his soil,
and having excellent food for his
stock.
SAVING PEA VINE HAY.
There are many ways of saving pea
lay, and it is a hard thing to say
'nch Is the best way. I have tried
&7eral ways, and all did very well with
oe exception. A good deal depends
qon the weather. They can be cut
I'd put in small heaps, then left to7re-
lan this way for several days, then
Ney can be hauled and packed away
the barn. 1t will not do to let them
: On the ground until cured, as they
~,ter so badly when hauled, losing
<SiLy all the leaves, which makes the
!" food. The way I like best is to
I" Nonged poles, say nine feet long,
eN IN The ground about eighteen inch
making small stacks over the field.
aus Is very quick work, as hands can
S'fy the vines on forks quicker than
F can be hauled, because a radius
Twelve yards will make a stack
O5fe the peas are good. Should there
De polls convenient having prongs,
Straight pole and tack Stats on same
s~e four feet long, and stack on
~'Se Is the vines begin to cure, of
5ofse they settle and the prongs or
'S cause the air to pass through the
ochs. making the vines cure nice and
'sht. Vines put up this way should
De poles convenient having prongs,
IsAs as they are liable to damage if
y are not put up very well, though
Oaye hauled them up the beginning
winter, and they were not damaged
sL the stock eating them in pref
''uce to any thing else.
P. H. MANGUM, JR.