Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1910-04-14

grown and most valuable hay ant
forage plant in the South. 1t can b,
grown nywhcre. and covers a longel
season of growth than any other. ]
furnishes large quantities OF nutritious
feed stuff and besides, builds up tn.
soil rapidly by furnishing nitrogen 'anc
humus.
The soil should be we'll prepared
as for any other farm crop. Poor
preparation is the cause Of most OF the
apparent failures with this crop.
For very early use the Whippoor'
will or the New Era variety can be
sown early in April in rows 80 inches
apart with corn planter, one-hall
bushel OF seed per acre. Cultivate
well, and where land is not fertile use
200 pounds Of acid phosphate and 81
pounds OF cotton-seed meal per acre to
give vigorous growth. Planted in
this way cowpeas will give heavy
crop Of grain and vines for hay in
early summer
For later crops, and where very
heavy yield is desired, the Clay, Un-
known. or some other well.known va
riety may be used.
Hay made from pea vines planted
in this way supplies ordinary work
stock with complete rations at sea-
son when most needed.
COWPEAS AND SORGHUM.
Where preferred and when it is
not specially desirable to have very
early hay, sorghum and cowpeas may
be sown together broadcast, one-halt
bnshel Of sorghum to one and one
half bushels Of cowpeas per acre.
Amber sorghum and some early va
riety Of cowpeas will mature quickly.
but for heavy yields Orange sorghum
and running variety OF cowpeas
should be used.
The land should be we'll broken and
thoroughly prepared before sowing
the seed. This point must be OBJ
served in all cases.
SOY BEANS.
In some localities the soy bean has
proved most desirable hay and for
age plant. The beans are very rich
in protein and the stalk is equal to pea
hay or alfalfa when properly cured.
While not adapted to all classes Of
soils, as is the cowpea, soy beans
should be given a trial on every farm
Sow in rows 3 feet apart. one-half
bushel Of good seed per acre. cult
vate WE'LL and cut when the plants
FIRST begin to ripen or turn yellow.
When intended for seed purposes the
crop should be allowed to ripen lit
tie longer than for hay.
The soy bean has been found valu-
able for hogs, where they are allowed
to gather the crop from the field.
VELVET BEANS.
In the Gulf States, and on poor
soils especially, the velvet bean will
be found a profitable crop. 1t makes
a very luxuriant growth. requires little
cultivation. and when planted early
will mature large quantities Of seed.
sufficient to be pastured off by cows
and hogs. The vine is too rank and
coarse for hay, but adds more fertil-
ity TO the soil than any Of the legumes
on account of its growth and its root
system.
The seed is cheaper than soy beans
or cowpeas, as bushel will be suf-
6cient to plant 4 or 5 acres. For
building up very poor soils il ranks
6rst among legumes both as to cost
and efficiency.
PEANUTS.
The value Of peanuts as hay and
food crop has never been appreciated.
The peanut will grow on the larger
portion Of the uplunds Of the South.
As a crop for varied uses nothing ex-
cells ii. Ii can be made profitable
when nuts are grown for market. and
/ has been found to produce more
and cheaper pork than any other crop. !