The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-07-08
Cow Peas.

In these last days OF June 1t Ia timely 10
call attention 10 the imp Lortance OF planting
peas. II this has not already b. en- done, then
the sooner they are planted the better. For
June IL the Ideal month for pea-plantlng.
May Is a little early, and while they may be
planted In July with the pOssibi lity OF matur-
ing crop OF peas or hay, June Is the month
found by experience 10 suit best. 1t stands
with Its bright, warm days. just at the thresh-
old Of summer. and the COW peak seems 10 90
best when plan ted In summer weather. This
has been q rainy June, and work In the corn
and cotton IL no doubt pressing. THIS should
not prevent the planting OF the pea crop,
however, as they can bs piowed In when the
other land Is too wet. Always after SOAR
ing rain there iB a period OF day or more
during which 1t Is Too wet TO work In the
spring planted crop. This ia the time to util-
ize for pes-piantlug, as the broken g. ound IN
which they are usually soWn Will always u"
TO plow day or more before that which has
been previously planted will be ready. In
day two. 10 all the time possible Is US, q, quite
q large amount OF work can be done. II isa
time when every minute counts.
The usnal met od OF planting In with one
horse plows, either shovels aud hall shoves
or dixie boys" II the OH ct is to make
hry, then troadcasting IL, generally the rule.
II peas are wanted. II viii! be best to plant IL
rows. about the width Of cotton rows. Fre-
quently the pea seed are quite scarce apo
high priced. aud II there is only ltmiteo
amount OF seed. II may De preferable 10 90 all
the planning In row., as IN this way there
Will not be 30 many seed needed. 1t usually
tax es one bushel or five pecks 10 seed an acre
broadcast, while peck will be sufficient In
rows.
The usual plan is just to plow the peas In.
and this gives very good results. In prepar-
ing for peas. however, the same rule holds
true that applies to other crops; the better
the preparation given, the better results Will
be. AT no other time will the use OF the har-
row be of greater benefit. II will fine the
soil, and leave the surface much smoolhei
than 1t would be otherwise, SO that when the
fpr pipu much
less difficulty In cutting the vtpes Some use
q drag OF some kind In place OF the barrow
Either will leave the surface in much better
condition for moving. Very seldom is any
commercial fertilizer used under the pea
crop, but nowhere will II perhaps pay better.
This crop does not need nitrogen so much ss
potash and phosphate. So. II we can use the
latter. 1t will always be sdvisab e to do 30.
Unlike cotton, peas In rows can be MADE
without hoeipg, which Is another point IN
their favor. II the after-culture with narrow
and pillow Is carefully done, hoeing may be
dispensed with
on good soil OF medium fertility we moy
expect 10 make ten or twelve bushels OF peas
per acre. or course. II the soil 10 quite rich.
larger amounts can be raj sed: II the vines
are cut for hay, one ton OF dry hay per acre ik
quite often secured sometimes more.
As to the varieties that are best 10 plant, il
we wish TO select kind that natures early,
the whippoorwill will be perhaps as good al
any II is the kind most com monty grown
In this locality. If q later maturing kind 10
desired, then the clay varieties will be the
kind TO plant. They ripen In September, and
generally attain larger growth OF vine than
the early varieties, and consequently will
make more peas.
The saving OF the hay will be considered In
o future article. Here 1t is only intended t.
call attention TO the value aud utility OF the
pea-crop, 30 that those who are not ALREADY
planting them may be induced to do 20. Cot
ton and corn, II Is true. will remain the prln-
cipal crop OF the farm, but this soil-renovat-
Ing crop should be given the place II mert Is.
1t will not do to keep our fields continuously
deprived OF It's humus. We can see evidences
OF this everywhere today In COW peas We
have Just the crop 10 break the continuity
OF cotton and corn culture, thus enabling the
tired, overworked earth 10 rrcnperate aud re
gain its natural strength. Then by all 10 cant
try TO get them planted In the stuoole. 10 the
corn, and anywhere else that II IL possible TO
do 30. DO not let the bright days OF June
pass without planting this crop.
Thos. Tolbert.