Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-23
Miscellaneous Facts About the CozCpea

I treatment. Carbon bisulphide is of course
a poison and exceedingly infammable and
care should be taken to keep 1t away
from fire and never to smoke or allow
matches in the vicinity of il when treating
the grain.
But few attempts have been made to
improve the pea. This can be brought
about through the medium of selection.
which I'm order to be OF the most value
midst be done in the field. Pick out large,
strong. vigorous plants that show a heavy
fruitage of long, well-illed pods and gath
er the seed from these. as Improvement
can only be attained through an improv-
ed individuality. BY following the meth
cd vigorously through a series of years,
the yield. length. shape and placing of
the pod, the uprightnes of growth, the
number Of leaves, or any other desirable
characteristic can be gradually engrafted
on the plant. Considering the import
ance of increasing the yield and improv
ing it's utility in many ways, the question
of seed selection should receive serious
consideration at the hands of the grow
ers. The methods are simple and sure
In their results II diligently followed.
and surely the profits from one improved
strain OF the pea for grain production
and another for climbing on corn or sor-
ghum intended for silage OF forage are
alluring enough to insure the matter Of
seed selection receiving prompt atten-
tion.
The value of the cowpea for balancing
up the large and coarse-growing forage
crops is not fully realized. Sorghum and
corn. etc. are unbalanced crops. that
is. they are very rich in carbohydrates,
but deficient in protein. II the cowpea,
rich I'm protein. can be successfully COM
bined with these crops. whether they are
intended for hay or silage, II would ma
terially improve the feeding quality and
so effect a considerable saving in the
meal ration and a great deal Of labor
I'm preparing the ration as well. That
this can be accomplished has been fire.
ouently demonstrated. The old method OF
planting the peas between the corn or
sorghum rows was excellent so far as
Il went. but IL was not possible to harvest
the crop with the forage, as the peas
spread out on the ground. but did not
climb up the stalks In order to get them
10 climb most freely. care in the selec-
ton Of a variety must be exercised ana
the peas must be planted at the Same
time as the other crop and in the drill
row with the crop. Seeding may be done
with a two-horse corn planter by hav-
ing suitable plates made for seeding the
peas through one hopper and the corn
through the other. Then by reversing the
I
rows the corn and peas win be planted
together. Plant the corn to 10 inches
apart and drop a pea between each corn
/ grain. Plates adapted for sowing peas
can easily be made or obtained from the
manufacturer It has been thought by
many that the peas would grow away
from the corn or sorghum and choke II
down. but this is not true: as the peas
must be given every opportunity or the
corn and sorghum will so shade them
as to dwarf their growth II properly
planted. some varieties will climb up on
the stalks of corn or sorghum 10 OF 10 feet
and mature seed by the time the crop
is ready to cut. and thus improve its
feeding value very much. whether it be
used as fodder or silage.
Two OF the best climbers and the best
general-purpose varieties for use with
these crops are the Lady and the Whip
poorwiIl. and Il has been observed that
the closer the rows are planted together.
the higher the peas climb. Planting the
above crops when intended for forage or
silage i'm two and a half or three foot
rows seems to favor the largest develop
ment OF the pea and enables cutting with
the corn harvester. n manifest advant-
age From Is to 20 per cent Of the crop
NAV be composed Of peas II the method of
planting outlined is pursued. Pesides bal
ancing no the crops thew bring nitro
gen TO the soil and furnish an aftermath
Of considerable value for pasturage.