The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-25
yarieties of Cowpeas.


 More than thirty kinds of cowpeas have been tested at the Alabama Ex. pertinent Station in recent years, pu. the farmer need not be concerned aooue becoming acquainted with more than half a dozen of these Unknown or Wonderful and Speckled or Whippoor- will are the standard varieties through out the greater part of the South and it is doubtful whether any Of the Vari- cites that are less widely known can advantageously take the place Of these as general purpose cowpeas. However, there are special conditions of soil or use under which some of the little known varieties stand far ahead or these two.
 The Unknown or Wonderful makes very vigorous growth and has larger leafiets and larger stems than any oth- CT variety that has come under my oo- servation. These stems are stim ana hold the plants up well, except when long runners grow out. On rfch laho' or planted early on any land, this va riety tangies considerably, but its run ners do not hug the ground so closely as Red Ripper and other slender run ming varieties. If the Unknown is planted late there is very little tan giing, the plant assuming almost bush form However, late planting sometimes keeps this variety from ma turing seed, especially in the northern part of the State and on prairie lanos in the central part. l would rank near the top of the list for soil tm- provement and for full yield of hay, though the hay may be coarser ana have fewer pods than some other vari- eties whippoorwill or Speckled is normally a bunch cowpea but when planted early on rich land It runs slightly It is among the best for seed production and makes excellent nay and very fair yield.
 The Iron cowpea needs to fe better known for it is the only variety that can be successfully grown on land where either cowpea wilt or root knot is very abundant. Hence this variety needs to be generally grown in the southern part of the State so that seed may be available for any field where either of these diseases is present and for fields whkch in other years give eV- idence of the black root of cotton. This variety somewhat resembles the Won derfui In the greenish white color or the seed but the vines are more slen- der, the seed smaller, and the period ot ripening more uneven. It may De ciassed as a running variety. It makes a large yield of hay and continues 10 bloom even after considerable pro portion of the pods Is ripe Most seeds men can supply seed. and when aI farmer once gets the seed. he should he careful not to loose the stock. The vfeid of cowpeas is only medium to poor While the pods darken the seed themselves are quite resistent to mii- dew and sometimes pass through the winter unharmed In the neld' sernai- hating next spring.
 Tha New Era cowpea is decidedly the hest of the early varieties known to me. Year after year we have grown two crops of this. the planting or the last days of May being ready for pick ing the rniddlA-of July and these same seed, after a few days summing, being again planted and usually maturing fun crop of pods before frost. This is atrictly bunch pea and is quite pro- ductive of seed but makes rather light yield of hay. The plants are very snnau and require fertilization and cuI- tivation. Most seedsmen can supply the seed, which are high-priced. very promising general purpose Vari- ety, quite superior to the Whlppoor- will for seed and almost as good for hay and for sofl improvement, is the Taylor, which Is half runner and earlier than Unknown.
 It would be we'll for farmers to be on the lookout for any highly produc- tive strain of white cowpeas, since these sell at a higher price than do seed of any other color The Lady which the market prefers, is entirely too unproductive. White Crowder IS good. but with us somewhat uncertain in yield. The early white black-eyed kinds usually lack somewhat In pro- ductiveness of seed.
 I should like to know what Is the experience of readers as to the variety of white cowpeas making the largest vlald of seed under their conditions
 J. F. D.
 Lice on Apple Leaves.
 An inquiry comes from Chiffon Coun- ty as to the best treatment for plant