Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-23

In an sections OF the country where the
cowpaa does well. there comes a period
Of short PASTURES in the summer season.
SO il Is necessary 20 feed some soilins
crop in order 10 keep the animals IN
growing. thriving condition, whether
beef. milk or pork be the object IN view
Nothing IS better for this purpose than
a succession OF pea vines, the result OF
using several different varieties or plant
ing al different dates. II the pea is used
as a soiIing crop. il should not be cut
until ready for hay making. as before that
time IL is too early 10 give its best re-
suits: after that time IL can be fed 10
dairy COWS with the greatest satisfaction.
or course, IL Is somewhat difficult TO
handle as a soiling crop owing 10 the
nature OF its growth ano the urge amount
OF water contained For that reason II
is best to Craze the crop.
Few crops are better adapted for graz
ing than the cowpea- Beef and dairy
cattle relish il and make as large profits
on Il as on the best Of pasture. The
value OF the crop per acre has not been
worked out definitely. but dairy COWS
grazing on the aftermath Of cOwpeas in
corn slower cut for silage have been
known TO make from s. to s. worth Of
butter Beef cattle would doubtless show
q gratifying increase were definite hg-
cowpeas have been known 10 make from
500 10 eco pounds OF gain on an acre of
land. which would give the crop value
Of from sl5 10 IS per acre for pork pro
duction.
The cowpea does not make the best
quality OF silage when used alone. Il lie
much better TO use Il in conjunction with
some Of the crops already described. IL
contains so much water and ferments
So readily that Il IS often black and re-
pulsive looking in color and inclined to
be sur. Thee difficulties are overcome
when it is made into silage in cOnjunc-
ton with other crops. OF which II may
constitute from Is 70 8 per cent with the
greatest advantage. as IL not only inn
proves the quality Of the siIage, keeps
II In good condition. but makes the ST.
lage much denser per cubic foot than
where corn alone is used.
one Of the problems in the culture of
the cowpea has been the difficulty Of saw
ing the seed in a cheap and economical
manner. Previous TO this time most OF
the seed has been gathered by hand.
which is a laborious and expensive meth
Cd II the pea Is cultivated in drills a
20 - inches apart and some of the bunch
varieties. particularly the whippOorwill.
used. the mature crop can be cut for
seed with the mower. raxed up and cured
in stocks. and drawn directly TO the
harm and run through an ordinary thresh-
ing machine from which the lower con-
cave has been removed and large pulley
put on the cylinder to reduce the speed.
IL Is true that this method OF threshing
viii result in cracking part OF the seed.
but only a small portion should be injured
where the threshing is properly done and
these can be easily winnowed out and
used for stock food BY planting. thresh-
ing and handling the peas as suggested.
the cost OF the seed can be cheapenec.
the areas devoted 10 the culture Of the
pea largely increased and we may look
forward 20 the time when there viii be
such an abundance OF grain available thar
II can be utilized as a meal for cattle
feeding.
The cowpea is subject TO the attack Of
the weevil which destroys beans and ordi-
nary field peas. The injury may be pre-
vented by putting the seed in tight bar
rels OF boxes and adding one ounce OF
carbon bisuiphide for each bushel OF seed.
The boxes should then be Immediately
covered and the poison will sink to the
bottom and destroy the weevil. II is the
part Of wisdom TO treat the seed two
Or three times during the winter season
eggs may hatch out after the first