The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-26
FARM AND
GARDEN n
INTERESTS


Philadelphia Record.
The cow pea is we'll known in the South.
and has been grown so long that 1t is al
most a surprise to the progressive farmer
that Its usefulness has not long ago carried
II into every county In the United States
where corn can be grown; in fact, as
green manurial crop ii can be produced even
where corn will not prove profitable. AL
though known as the cow pea" ii Is really
a beam" and there are so many varieties
as to render classification difficult. The
cow pea is a wholesome food for man and
beast, and is as nourishing as the ordinary
white navy bean. Owing TO the fact that
when il Is cooked II darkens the pots and
kettles, while the liquid is almost black, 1t
is unpopular with those who test 1t; but In
the South, where it is a staple article of
food, the white variety. having black eye,
Is the kind used on the table. The white
variety is, perhaps, not so we'll adapted for
green manurial purposes as the black pea,
but 1t thrives on all soils and 10 sure to
produce a crop even under adverse condi-
tons. The COW pea is picked for the table
when the pods are yellow. At this stage
the seeds are soft, and on the table are
dry, they are picked shelled and the dry
seeds stored away for use in winter. The
pods are not used on the table. On good
land from twenty to twenty-five bushels
per acre may be expected. but to harvest the
crop in order to save the seed Is somewhat
laborious, as considerable handwork is re-
CURED. but later inventions are giving relief
in such work.
The cow pea. like clover. belongs to the
family Of legumes, or nitrogen satherers.
and as it will grow on soils that will not
produce clover. ii is sometimes known as
poor mans clover" In the South ii Is
believed that the cow pea will grow where
no other plant will thrive. hence it is not
uncommon. when describing the poverty of
piece of land, to assert that Ii will not
even grow COW peas" and to ascribe such
to the plot means that land must be
tremely low in fertility If cow peas cannot
be produced upon it. This characteristic
of the COW pea-that it will grow on poor
soils-is one OF its strongest recommended
tons. for with its aid poor land can be
restored to fertility. June Is usually the
month for planting or sowing the SEED. and
as II makes rapid growth after II starts
it is never caught by frost unless planted
quite late in the season. but may be seeded
later If desired 1t will thrive either in
rows and cultivated, or may be broad
nitrogen from the atmosphere, through the
agency of Its micro ganisms (as Is the
case with clover, II requires little or no
fertilizer of a heterogeneous nature, though
very small quantity of nitrate Of SODA.
about twenty-five to nifty pounds per acre.
will influence its growth in its early stages;
Such fertilizers as the potash salts, wood
ashes, air-slaked lime and manure will give
excellent results. especially If assisted by
soluble phosphate. Lime broadcasted in the
fall and the cow peas seeded the follow
ins will
without the aid of any fertilizer, and such
is perhaps the cheapest mode of growing
cow, peas If the object is to improve the
land at the lowest cost for the crop
While 1t must be admitted that outside
of the nitrogen derived from the atmos-
phere the COW pea adds nothing from the
soil, yet Is cannot thrive without the aid
of the mineral elements-potash and phos-
phoric acid-but it secures these materials
from the soil and stores them in the plants.
If the plant is returned to the soil these
in an inert condition, are then in an avail
able form, and If lime has been used to
render the soil alkaline the land will be In
better condition for clover. but those who
begin system of green manuring find IT
profitable TO SOW peas and plow them
under in time to seed the land with crimson
clover, so as to have the land covered with
crop during the winter. II preferred one
may use rye. which may be seeded quite
late: If the farmer has manure he should
apply Ii on the land which has received
COW peas and crimson clover Tor rye) as
green manurial crops. and in the spring
the land can go in corn, to be followed by
wheat in the following fall and seeding to
clover the next spring. In this manner the
land can be greatly improved, but 1t will
pay 10 apply fertilizer containing potash
and phosphoric acid on the land for corn,
and lime will always assist such crops as
clover and cow peas. The cheapest way
to use COW peas where cattle are Kept is to
feed the hay and return the manure to the
soil. The vines are moved after the pods
are yellow mot dry. cured and stored
under cover. Some experience is required
to properly cure the hay, but one soon
learns. The vines are highly relished by cat
tie, horses ana sheep. and the seeds may be
ground into pea meal, being then one OF the
best OF foods. The unground seeds are also
accepted by all animals. and they serve
admirably for poultry.