The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-03-30
BY G. NJ. MILLER.

The great value of the COW pea 10
southern agriculture is not Well un-
derstood in the North. SO important
is the mission which it serves in
southern agriculture that it may be
questioned it farmers in the South
could successfully carry their
work We're it not for the preesnce OF
this wonderful plant.
It is a legume and therefore fur
niSheS nitrogen to the southern farm.
er, which it draws from the atmOS-
phere. 1t will also grow in any kind
of soil, hOWSOeVer poor or hard or
sandy, providing it is not wet, but It
may be necessary in some soils to ap-
ply phosphorus acid and potash, and
| in some instances a little nitrogen to
give the plant a start.
1t may therefore be made a means
of renovating a soil of almost any de-
scrjption. 1t also brings humus to
soils in which this important factor
may be lacking.
Through the dense shade which Il
furnishes it tends to mellow soils, and
through its strong and deep roots it
not only opens up the soil but it
draws mineral matter from the sub
soil and leaves much of it in the cul-
tivatable area. It furnishes pasture
and grain for all kinds of live stock,
| is a main reliance for many farmers
| for hay and in some of its varieties
may be used to furnish good food for
table use.
/ The COW pea may be grown any
/ where, or almost anywhere, in south
/ ern locations. It may be grown before
any cereal or grass crops soWn in the
autumn. or any sp1ingSOWn or spring
planted crops. 1t makes a good crop
to precede the staple crops OF the South
that is, cotton, tobacco and corn.
| 1t also puts the ground in good con-
Il
ries and all kinds of vegetables It
may follow any kind Of q grain crop
that has been matured or pastured off
in the spring, may follow early Nege-
tables and may be sOWn between rows
of corn, sorghum or kaffir corn after
the last cultivation or at the time of
same If the ground is to be brought
up rapidly two crops of cow peas of
some varieties can be grown in one
season.
In the middle States this crop is also
valuab bic, but not SO valuable as in
the South. The season Of growth is
shorter and therefore smaller yarie-
ties must be sOWn. 1t is only in the
more southerly Of the middle States
that the crop may be grown after a
grain crop has been harvested, and in
none of these is it much needed rs
further South. IN the middle States
it is much grown for pasture and to
provide 1tfC1ItN, ana ltS mission 1Of
these uses is certain to increase.
In the northern States the mission
Of COW peas is still further circum-
scribed. The short season only ad-
n1its of the growth Of varieties that
will nateure in from 80 to 126 days
from the time of planting. This means
that the place in the rotation can be
filled by them only in hot weather.
Cow peas are sensitive to frost.
can best be grown to bring fertility
to land that requires fertilization,
and while doing this they may be
made to provide pasture for the diff
ferent classes of live stock. In some
localities where clover is not an as
sured success COW peas may grow
and fertiliZe the land III ninety days
from the time Of planting. Only a
few varieties, however. viii ripen
within the time indicated.