The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-11-16
cowpEA CULTURE.



~. sseding value of cowpea nay
pr,,etin No. IS, from the missouri
u-rsr,ment station, Is devoted 70 ~
.eas q. culture and value as . ion.e
a~or The Bulletin makes the ioil0w
clop .,n.rv Of conclusions reaches
from experiments made:
/. Cowpeas can be grown soGoes
fully on all types Of Missouri So''
IN any section of the state
Al much forage can be produco~
from cowpeas in so days as red clover
win yield in Is months.
The feeding value Of compea nay
.. frl,v equal to that Of the best REQ
clover and is almost equal to Alfalfa.
4. Cowpeas make an exceisenl ps
tire especially valuable as suppio
mentary feed for growing animals par
ticularly hogs.
In southern Missouri cowFeaS
MAY be planted with corn ana Gu.
pether for silage to good advantase
The quick maturing habit OF inc
cownea renders 1t admirably aoapteu
for sowing as catch crop between nc
regular crops Of the rotation. IN me
southern half of the state cowpeas
NAV follow wheat or oats and produce
cron for hay or pasture before time
so- fal, seeding. In northern Mis-
eouri this practice will be successiuH
orlv IN favorable seasons and wner~
an early maturing variety Is used.
= Where clover is not adapted OF
, frequently fails cowpeas may be sun
! stituted. and may be used to improve
. soil conditions so that clover WI"
. catch.
: 3 The growing Of cowpeas in~
: creases the productive capacity q me
: soil by storing and by making avail
y able plant food.
!. An Improvement ii the pAysicat
!. condition Of the soil Is always notes
d where cowpeas have grown. Inc SCI
'. becomes more open, friaDie' inolo
e easily worked, holds moisture DeueI
r. and dries out earlier in the spring.
u 10 because of their nitrogen con-
Il tent heavy growth and rapid maturity,
of cowpeas are especially well adapted
ID for green manuring.
~ IL. Varieties of cowpeas diner wioe-
ar " n their habits of growth. These
or vary from an upright, bush-like form
he to low trailing vines many fee' IN
lly length. Some mature IN so days
he others require 120 days Or more.
ZEE -. The variety to be selected 1o'
in p,anting depends upon the purpose ion
nd which crop Is grown and upon tn'
OF length of the growing season.
m. n. The Whippoorwill variety y
er. recommended for the general grower
ev- The New Era is best suited for cato
his crop or for a short growing season.
,ro- IL. Cowpeas respond generously =
I've thorough soil preparation. The see
cid he'd should be given as good treatmen
Is as that for corn. :.
'ea- Is. When peas are not to be cult
md waited four or 1ive pecks Of seed pe
ray acre win be required; Il TO DC cu''
". waited, ave to eight quarts.
or 16. Cultivated peas require less see
the more labor, and the yield is USUAL
and but little heavier than when not cui'
ted, waited. :.
or ~. When peas are intended for Il
'ver main crop, planting should begin n
| to earlier than two weeks after the usu
gra- time for corn planting. For cat
low crop SOW at the earliest date possin
the after wheat or oats have been cut.
,uth IS. The vines should be cut Tor nj
tier when the first pods turn yellow, al
rich before the leaves begin to fall.
ure. 10. Cowpeas yield from one to 10
pre- ton. NJ hav per acre and from eight
lnds TWENTY-FIVE bushels OF seed.
i be 20..The average crop of cowpeas o
,uch q value not exceeded by that OF
the other crop in the state, equally W
ould adapted and distributed.