Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-04-14


anced with. nitrogen to make good and
profitable growth. No crop OF any kind
can live and develop without these three
elements being in the soil I'm SUFFICIENT
quantities TO meet the demands OF the
plants. A thousand pounds of pure nitro
gen to the acre would not develop sin
gle plant, or even sustain life after ger
minatiOn. IL there were not also present.
not one. but both phosphoric acid and pot
ash. Neither one OF the three can ac-
cOmplish anything alone. but all must be
present in properly balanced quantities to
supply the needs Of whatever kind OF
plant life that Is being cultivated. The
cOwpea can draw sufficient nitrogen from
the air 10 supply more than its need, and
leave a surplus behind for other crops,
but the phosphOric acid and potash re-
quired in it's development. must be sup
piled artihcially IL those elements do not
exist in sufficient quantities, naturally, in
the soil. In virgin forests. freshly cleared,
these elements nearly always exist in suf-
ficient quantities to produce crops Of any
kind. but ordinarily. especially lands that
are poor and need building up, phospho-
ric acid and potash should be applied eth
er broadcast or In the drill at time Of
sowing or planting the cowpeas. For
every pound OF nitrogen consumed in the
development Of the cOwpea vine, leaves
fruit, etc. a considerable amount Of phos-
phOric acid and potash Is also consumed.
A ton OF cowpea hay contains usually, 40
pounds OF nitrogen. 80 pounds of potash
and 10 pounds OF phOsphoric acid. The
last two elements must be supplied out OF
the soil from which the crop was grown.
On sandy soils. which are usually def
cient in potash. the cowpea can make good
use OF go pounds OF kainit and 200 pounds
OF phOsphOric acid, mix and applied to
each acre sown or drilled. On red clay
lands the amount OF l1ainit can be reduced
0ne-third. If the crop is then plowed under
in the fall or following spring. nothing
in the shape of plant food applied has
been removed. but on the contrary a con-
siderable quantity is returned which cost
only the working of the crop. and which
viii pay heavy dividends on the next crop
OF corn. wheat. oats or cotton. If the vines
are cut and fed to the stock and the ma
nure returned to the land. still nothing is
lost, or II the crop is pastured the same
results follow.
Varieties.
There are about 900 varieties of the
cowpea. but for the purposes of this ar
ticle only a few will be named. In Guilt
waiting the crop for hay, plant either
Clay. Unknown, or Whippoorwill. They
are vigorous in growth, mature late and
by growing erect make harvesting and
nuring, plant Unknown, Black or Red
Ripper. If large yield of seed is want
ed select any one of the following: Black
Clay Whippoorwill and Unknown. For
table use plant the Large or Small Lady.
Sugar or Blackeye Crowder. either of
which is tender and of good flavor.
The cowpea. If properly appreciated and
utilized TO the full extent Of the farm
ers average possibilities. can be made to
reclaim the worn lands of the south and
develop them TO a high state of Guilt
walton. 1t has been often asserted by prac-
teal farmers that If two young farm
ers start out In life equally equipped in
money and intelligence and one persist
emily plants cowpeas on his land every
year, using only phosphoric acid and pot
ASH, and the other fails TO plant cowpeaz
and buys a complete fertilizer each year,
that the first farmer who used the cow
peas win die rich and the other poor. nine
times in ten cases. If this be true and II
has been so I'm the past, there need be
no further argument about the impera-
tive need Of taking vigorous hold of this
best OF all friends to the southern farmer
HARVIE JORDAN.