Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-27
STUDY VALUE OF COW PEAS
They Mature Quickly Grown
Successfully in Many States,
Particularly in the South.
BY G. NJ. MILLER.

The great value of the COW pea to
southern agriculture is not well I'M
derstood in the north So important
is the mission which it serves in south
ern agriculture that it may be ques-
toned if farmers in the south could
successfully carry on their work were
it not for the presence Of this wonder
full plant.
1t is a legume, and therefore fur
nishes nitrogen to the southern farmer,
which it draws from the atmosphere.
1t will also grow in any kind of soil.
howsoever poor or hard or sandy. pro-
viding it is not wet, but it may be
necessary in some soils to apply phos-
phoric acid and potash, and in some
instances little nitrogen to give the
plant a start.
| 1t may therefore be made a means
of renovating a soil of almost any de-
scription. 1t also brings humus to
soils in which this important factor
may be lacking.
Through the dense shade which it
furnishes it tends to mellow soils, and
through it's strong and deep roots it
i not only opens up the soil but it draws
mineral matter from the subsoil and
leaves much Of it in the cultivable area.
1t furnishes pasture and grain for all
kinds of live stock, is 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 southern
locations. 1t may be grown before any
cereal or grass crops sown in the au-
tumn, or any spring. sown or spring.
nlxnS
to precede the staple crops of the
south-that is cotton, tobacco and
corn. II also puts the ground in good
condition for growing melons, straw
berries and all kinds of vegetables 1t
may follow any kind of a grain crop
that has been matured or pastured off
in the spring, may follow early vegeta-
bleS and may be sown between rows of
corn, sorghum or Kafir corn after the
last cultivation or at the time of same.
If the ground is to be brought up rap
idly two crops of COW peas of some
varieties can be grown in one season.
In the middle states this crop is also
, valuable, but not SO valuable as in the
t south. The season of growth is shorter
and therefore smaller varieties must
, be sown. 1t is only in the more south
erly of the middle states that the crop
/ may be grown after a grain crop has
S been harvested. and in none of these is
it so much needed as further south. In
1 the middle states it is much grown
for pasture and to provide fertility, ant
r its mission for these uses is certain tc
:. increase.
r In the northern states the mission o.
5 COW peas is still further circumscribed
r The short season only admits of the
growth of varieties that will mature II
q from 80 to 100 days from the time o
r planting This means that the place
: in the rotation can be filled by them onl!
in hot weather. Cow peas are sensitive
t to frost.
Under northern conditions COW pea!
g can best be grown to bring fertility t.
land that requires fertilization ant
while doing this they may be made t.
provide pasture for the different classe
of live stock. In some localities wher
clover is not an assured success coy
S peas may grow and fertlize land Il
h ninety days from the time of planting
: Only a few varieties, however, Wi
ripen within the time indicated.