The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1909-03-18
The Cow Pea. a Land Builder.


does for the lands of Mississippi, that it
would be easily worth $3.50 per acre.
Makes little difference how much truth
there is in what this man said there is
mountains of truth in the assertion that
the ordinary COW pea is and will be
worth millions to our people in rebuild
ing their worn lands. This is a propo-
sition in which the verdict is unanimous
and discussion is ueess.
The Geise-Mann Hardware Co., of
Greenville, is introducing an oat and
pea thresher. To create . demand for
their machine they are sending out
circular letter encouraging the growing
of both crops. Their letter, with which
the Department of Agriculture has been
honored with copy, is well worth re
production. 1t is not only applicable to
the Delta, but to other sections of Mis-
sissippi as well. Here it is:
"The agitation and newspaper pub
licity that has been given to the threat
ened invasion of the boil weevl has de-
moralized labor, business, credits, and
wrought untold injury upon the Delta.
While WEI disapprove of the agitation,
we do not fail to realize the serious
ness of the proposition confronting us,
but do not fear the outcome if the prop
er steps are taken in advance to combat
the pest There is no country ON the
globe where a man can make as good
the Delta. We have got to look to other
products besides cotton, and the fellow
who does not prepare in advance tic
meet the certain onslaught of the pest
will be financially obliterated.
eve have made some observations per
tanning to cow peas. A field of COW
peas has been happily termed "a poor
mans bank for it is the surest and
most profitable crop that grows, besides
improving the fertility of the oil. To
get the best results, peas should be
drilled from eighteen to thirty inches
apart, which can be done with a corn
planter, and worked time or two with
cultivator.
''The objection to pea planting hereto
fore has been the difficulty in getting
them picked. We have a machine that
solves this proposition and has been fully
tested and proven. The vines are fed
into the machine and the shelled and
cleaned peas are shaken out of the hop
per. The threshed hay can be elevated
into the barn or blown out to the press
and baled for market.
The average yield per acre is about
three tons of vines and fifteen bushels
of peas. This hay will bring at the low
est valuation $25 for the three TONS
The peas we will value at 81 per bushel,
which gives gross revenue for the acre
of $25 for the hay and SIS for the peas,
a total of $40. The cost of machinery,
land rent, labor, tools, etc., will not
equal $40, which leaves a net gain of
$40 per acre. Do you do as well with
cotton?
Ibis is not all. After the pea crop
has been garnered, the land is in most
excellent condition and can be planted
in winter oats. The same machine that
threshes the pea crop will thresh the
oat crop.
"After considering these facts we do
not think that there need be much fear
of the boil weevil. Ponder over this
carefully, and if you will investigate
you will find our estimated yield too low.
The price placed ON the peas and hay is
also very conservative, really lower than
any man will be forced to sell them for"
Prof. Fox, director of the Delta Elk
pertinent Station, located near Green
vile, has demonstrated by experiments
that pea stubble turned under is worth
approximately 81 per acre in increased
production of crops for the following
year, and there are other arguments just
as pertinent that might have been used
by this enterprising Greenville firm.
The suggestion that discussion and
newspaper publicity of the boil weevil
is damaging the country is not well
founded and is pretty effectively an
swered in the circular itself. No people
should be expected to shut their eyes
and stop their ears when an enemy is
approaching. Napoleon did something
like this at Waterloo, but not jackson
at New Orleans. Prepare for the enemy
and meet him upon safe basis. This
agitation undoubtedly is responsible for
the COW pea circular, which in itself is
good result The people of Mississippi
are not asleep, but will meet this propo-
sition as they have always met them,
sensibly and with determination to
win.
1t has been proven that pork can and
is produced in Mississippi under favor
able conditions for less than 3 cents per
pound. Still, millions of dollars annu-
ally goes out for meats and the State
is just that much poorer. Brewer Bros,
of Monroe county, recently killed and
sailed down five hogs that weighed, re-
spectively, sos, 4s7, $50, 800 and $50
de TIa nj