The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-26
The Growth of the Cow Pea.

(Cor. of The Progressive Farmer.)
| All over the country where the COW
pea can. be grown, farmers are waking
up on the subject, as the crop is no doubt
a great land improver There are some,
however, who are inclined to think that
peas can be grown on the same land
year after year, and improve the soil
without using any plant food. This is a
mistake. Cow peas like every other
crop, will impoverish the soil, if we do
not use a fertilizer to prevent it.
NITROGEN FROM PEAS.
Peas, as we all know, make nitrogen
by forming nodules on the roots, though
they draw a great deal of potash and
phosphoric acid from the soil; whereas,
if the pea be grown year after year on
same land, after a few years they will
leave the soil much poorer than they
found it, if no fertilizer be used. I pre-
fer the COW pea to any other crop for
improving the SOIL though l do not ex-
pect the soil to be improved unless pro-
perly treated. All farmers know nitro
gen is the most expensive part of a
complete fertilizer; this we do not have
large scale.
Cow peas like every other crop do bet
ter on we'll pulverized soil, though they
can be grown on land that clover, etc,
will not, and improve the land. usually
raise fine peas sown broadcast after
wheat, say about the last of June and
first of July, using in advance potash and
phosphoric acid l use a good deal of the
x.-bo ,r,ho 70
putting enough for wheat and peas at one
time.
GROW PEAS AFTER WHEAT.
After a number of years of experience
with the cow pea, am confident the cot
tor farmes would be far better off if they
grew moro cow peas, and never miss the
time it takes to SOW them. Almost
every farmer at the South, no matter
whether he rents or owns land raises a
little wheat. Now, after the wheat is
cut and removed from the field, it would
pay in more ways than one, if he would
SOW this same land down in an early
variety Of the cow pea. 1t pays far bet
ter to pillow land first, harrow well, then
sow the peas, say from one to one and
a half bushels to the acre; narrowed in
well will make far better peas, than the
ones plowed in. The more the ground
is pulxerized by narrowing the better,
but as June and July are very busy
months for the cotton farmer, he can
pillow the peas in with pillow and make
good crops. improving his soil, and hav-
ing excellent food for his stock.
SAVING PLEA VINE HAY.
There are many ways of saving pea
hay, and it is hard thing to say which
is the best way l have tried several
ways, and all did very we'll with one ex-
ception. A good deal depends upon the
weather. They can be cut and put in
small heaps, then left to remain this way
for several days, then they can be hauled
and packed away in the barn. 1t will not
do to let them lay on the ground until
cured, as they shatter so badly when
hauled, losing nearly all the leaves,
which makes the best food The way
like best is to get pronged poles, say
nine feet long, put in the ground about
eighteen inches making small stacks over !
the field This is very quick work, all
hands can carry the vines on forks
quicker than they can be hauled, because
q radius of twelve yards will make a
stack where the peas are good. Should |
there not be polls convenient having
prongs, straight pole and tack Stats
on same some four feet long, and stack |
on these. AS the vines begin to cure, i
of course they settle and the prongs or |
Stats cause the air to pass through the |
stacks, making the vines cure nice and !
bright. Vines put up this way should |
not be poles convenient having prongs |
week as they are liable to damage il |
they are not put up very we'll, though I |
have hauled them up the beginning OF |
winter, and they were not damaged at |
all, the stock eating them in preference |
to any thing else.
II. H. MANGUM, JR.