The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1910-07-08
THE COWPEA IN THE SOUTH
]. c. MCAuliffe, Harlem, Ga. NJ


of instances farms were desolate, and
the abandonment reached a stage
akin to that in certain sections OF New
England Then there came a change
in farming methods, and the wonder
full legume, the cowpea, was intro
duced. Through it a charming meta
morphosis was effected, and the old
cultivated fields became as valuable
as the virgin soil from which the or
iginal forest trees had just been
cleared.
All this may seem like fairy tale,
but it takes only glimpse at South
ern farm conditions to satisfy the
most skeptical that this is so. But
back of all this story there is a state
ment which may be made with i'm
punity and yet is surprising. Though
cowpeas transform the barren fields
into blooming, productive, valuable
land, still not one farmer in ten real
ICES their true value. However,
demonstration of their worth is found
in the difference in the price of seed
as compared with ten years ago. At
that time cOwpeas could be pur-
chased anywhere at from forty to
fifty cents bushel; to-day the aver
age price is 50 to $3.50 bushel, and
the supply does not equal the demand.
When farmers all over the country
learn about the results possible to
achieve with the cowpea there will
be a greater demand. With approx
mately $50 varieties, of all sizes,
habits and colors, the scope of the
territory in which they may be cult
waited is almost illimitable. Certain
it is that hardly piece of ground in
the South. if it is not flooded with
water, will ever be called worthless
again, and this improved condition
must be attributed to the cowpea.
A few years ago there developed in
the South a disease called the cotton
wilt, and from it the farmers of
Georgia and South Carolina now lose
| 100000 year. Since that time
a wilt proof cotton has been pro-
duced, and where this variety is
planted the loss has been reduced ten
per cent. Many of the farmers who
owned land affected with this trouble
decided to plant cowpeas and raise
hay and seed. Their plans were cut
short, however, when it was found
that the cowpea was susceptible to
the wilt. Then there came the iron
cowpea, wilt resistant, drouth re-
sistent variety, which made a bounti-
leaves long enough after the peas
were gathered to make good hay.
Thus there seems to be a certain
adaptation of varieties. There are
varieties adapted to growing in Ohio,
others to Texas, and | believe some
will be exceptionally valuable as far
North as Vermont and Maine, and if
the extension of the cowpea area can
be accomplished by the FedN'al and
State departments of agriculture
there will undoubtedly result vast
ly increased productiveness of farm
lands.
One farm that has been thus i'm
proved ought to be argument enough
but as matter of fact these demon
STATIONS are so numerous it would
be an endless task to attempt such
an undertaking as to relate the sto.
ries about them. However, there is
nothing amiss in reciting the virtues
of the wonderful leguminous plant
Planted after the winter grain croE
is over it is a comparatively easy mat
ter to produce ten bushels of seet
peas that sell easily at So bushel
From the same acre a ton of hay sell
ing at $40 ton may be cut, ant
then a large amount of nitrogen lef
In the soil, together with a splendid
supply of vegetable matter Here
then, is where the real worth of thu
cowpea comes in, for it's intrinsic
value is trebled
If farmer desires to improve hi
land at small cost, the right thinE
to do is to use the soiling methot
and plant the peas simply for fertili
zation. In this course the change il
exceptionally rapid. Fields appar
emily worn out respond like magi
to the plowman's touch, and abund
ant crops spring from where only DIES
olation appeared before. While thi
evolution is taking place, however
there is actual profit in farming oper
atoms.
This induces farmers to grow live
stock, and thereby hangs another tai
from the agricultural standpoint
The farmers of the cotton belt ar
rather lax in growing cattle, much s
in horses. and they do not raise eve,
half enough pork to supply the loca