The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-11

Reduced rates have been given by
railroads and boarding houses and a
large attendance Is expected. The far
mers who attend may reasonably ex-
pect to carry away with them informa-
ton that will many times repay them,
even in dollars and cents, for the ex-
pense of the trip. ]. #. D.
Cow Pea Experiments.
The Arkansas Experiment Station is
doing most excellent work for the far
mers OF that State, and the Southern
States as well. Bulletin n, recently is
sued by this station, is on "Cowpea
Experiments" and is full of useful and
valuable information to every farmer
in the State. As a result of careful
and exhaustive experiments 1t appears
that the cowpea Is less affected by
either drought or excessive rainfall
than any other crop grown at the ex-
pertinent station. In fact. the effect of
excess of rain has invariably caused
a decrease in the yield Of grain, and
a deficient rainfall a marked increase
in grain.
Experience further showed that the
cowpea will respond as probably to
good preparation as will corn, cotton
or potatoes. and good cultivation usu-
ally results in SO per cent. increase In
the yield of peas and profitable in
crease in hay. Cultivation before the
plant blossoms is of far greater benefit
than later.
The plan of planting cowpeas in corn
cannot be too highly recommended, the
cowpea crop often being equal to from
one-half to the full value of the corn
peas thus grown need not be greater
than the cost of the seed and the cost
of the planting, which should not ex-
coed 81 per acre. Cowpeas sown In
corn should be grazed. after the corn
has been harvested. first by hogs. and
later by cattle or sheep. This plan
saves cost of cutting. curing. often a
risky undertaking. and housing the
hay, besides the subsequent labor OF
handling in feeding, while practically
all the fertilizing value of the vines
next crop, and the permanent improve
ment of the land.
The bulletin continues: In the
southern portion of Arkansas the cow
peas may be planted from the first
of April to the middle or latter part
os August. In the Northern part of
the State they can rarely be planted
before the first day of May or later
than the middle of August. This gives
in the southern portions of the State
four and n half months open to plant
ing and three and a half in the north
ern portion. Thus the cowpea may fol-
low the crops that mature in the spring
or early summer, may precede those
that are sown in the fall, and may be
sewn with or in several crops that
occupy the soil from April or May un-
til August September or October. If
planting is done after July due con-
sideration must be given the variety
planted. since the period of ripentng
varies from sixty and 200 days in diff
ferent varieties. Some varieties have
repeatedly failed to produce seed at
Fayetteville when planted early in May
or later. For late planting the fol-
lowing varieties may be depended upon
In the order named: New Era, War
rer's New Hybrid. Warpen's Extra
Early, Old Mans. Extra Early Black
Eye and Whippoorwill.
Cowpeas are to a greater extent
than ever before planted as a main
lcrop, or second crop. for either shelleo
peas. hay pasturage. cover crop OF
fertilizer. Planted at whatever time
thorough preparation is insisted upon
The soil should be well broken and har-
rowed. If rolled and an additional har'
rowing given. the results will be all the
better. The most convenient and most
profitable place in rotation that may
be given the cowpea Is as seconc
crop, following wheat. oats. barley
Irish potatoes, crimson clover. vetct
or any crop harvested in Nav June OF
July. II early varieties are then plant
ed. they may be harvested or pastureo
| in time to seed the same land to any
OF the above crops. except Irish pota'
toes. while for the second crop of lrisf
potatoes an early crop of cowpeas sowf
In MAY or not later than the miodi'
of June affords the best preparation foi
planting the potatoes early In August
In such a case the peas should be con
verted into hay and the ground i'm
mediately prepared for the second-crol
notatoes. In addition to the value o.
the grain and hay secured from th'
cowpeas grown after grain harvested
| in the spring. and before grain SEEDED
| in the fall. there is an increase In value
of the subsequent crop of grain CREATE
than the cost OF the crop of cowpeas
Cotton Planters Journal