Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-27

The composition OF pea hay shows II &c
be slightly richer than alfalfa in pro-
TEN. A ton OF alfalfa contains 2lll6
pounds OF digestible protein; a ton OF
cowpea hay, z15.S pounds; while a ton OF
red clover hay contains only 1915 pounds.
OF q little more than one-half as much
protein as a ton OF cowpea hay. The nu-
tritive rations Of orchard grass. timothy
and Kentucky blue grass are ISIS. 1:l6.z.
las respectively; the nutritive ratio VI
covpea hay IS las. The pea hself Is
also very rich. having q nutritive rau0
OF TAI: while oats have ratio OF l:6.2;
corn 1.a7 and wheat. 1:3L The grain
contains 1Ss per cent OF protein, or about
one-han OF that contained in cotton seed
meal and two-thirds as much as con-
tanned in soy beans. two OF the richest
protein-producing foods in existence In
some experiments recently completed il
was found that Is pounds OF pea hay
was equal 70 one pound OF wheat bran
for feeding to dairy cows. and from z5
70 ; pounds equivalent to one pound or
cotton seed meal for the same purpose.
The substitutions were made on the ba-
Ms OF the digestible protein contained
NJ eowpea contains 1oTs per cent. wheat
WA 120 per cent. and cotton seed meal
- per cent Thus one pound Of wheat
an contained as much protein as LIS
unds OF cowpea hay. and one pound o.
Nton seed meal as much as S.S pounds
cowpea hay OF course IL could not be
lhstituted indefinitely for wheat bran or
tttOn seed meal because Of its bulky ma
are and the difficulty that would be ex-
erienced IN getting the cattle to eat IL.
Hut q can certainly replace a part or ali
n these foods in a ration, according TO
ne prevailing market price.
Il was found that in feeding beef cat
lie 70 10 pounds OF cowpea hay could be
substituted for 8 to 5 pounds Of cotton
seed meal with good results. the average
gain per head per day on corn meal. cot
ton seed meal and sorghum silage being
I'll pounds. and on corn meal. cotton seed
meal. cowpea hay and silsge, Is pounds.
Other groups fed corn meal. cowpea hay
and slower I'm place OF cotton seed meal
gained is and Ia pounds respectively.
As pea hay can be produced very cheap
~ on the farm and win improve the soil
By bringing nitrogen TO II through the
leaves and stubble. Il should be utilized
largely for feeding TO beef and dairy cat
tie in place OF the more expensive bran
and cotton seed meal which has TO be
purchased. Two and a half tons Of cow
Pea hay can often be produced on an
acre OF land for less money than IL would
take 10 purchase q ton Of bran. though
the hav would contain twice the amount
Of protein present In the bran and more
than two-thirds as much as ton OF cot
ton seed meal. Some strange stories
have been circulated about pea hay being
INJURIOUS 10 stock. especially horses.
when improperly cured. ''moldy'' or
..hre-fanged'' this would very likely be
the case but where the hay Is clean and
pure and has the bright green color II
should have. there is no danger what
ever from feeding IL to any class OF live
stock
The following are some OF the more
important reasons why the cowpea should
be regarded with special favor. 1t Is
successfully cultivated over larger sec
ton OF the country than any other grain
producing legume and II is one OF the
easiest 10 cultivate. II the seed Is put
IN on weT-prepared ground and given any
chance at all. II is almost certain to
make a satisfactory growth II is free
from disease except I'm limited sections
OF the country where IT may be attacked
bv nenatodes OF root gals. but variety
known as the iron pea has been discover
ed which Is immune TO these diseases. so
that some variety can be cultivated In
every section OF the c6untry.
Then II has a wonderful capacity as a
nitrogen gatherer. Il having been shown
that on ordinary sandy soils II can as
simulate in the course Of its growth from
70 70 % pounds OF nitrogen. and on good
son from 100 TO 80 pounds per acre
Even when the hay is removed and the
fallen leaves. stems and roots alone con-
sidered. Il furnishes % TO IS pounds Of
nitrogen 70 an acre Of soil. IL is thus
the cheapest medium for supplying nitro
gen. the most essential and expensive ele-
ment OF plant food. The cOwpea also has
an excellent effect on soil amelioratiOE.
Owing 20 its dense growth. Il shades the
ground and keeps IL moist. and II grown
for one OF two years on the heaviest clay
viii mellow Il down and render IL friable
20 a surprising degree
II IS valuable as a catch crop and for
growth in a two-crop system. the first
crop for hay and the second crop for
pasture. for blowing under or for seed
production. as may be desired. II fits adj
mirabIy into a rotation anywhere, can
be utilizedas a soiling crop. or for silage,