Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-07-04
farn1 and firesiae.
How to Raise Cowpeas.

seed is about the first of June. A mis-.
take is frequently made in sowing
them early in May, since a period Of
a few cool days after they are up is
sure to stunt them and prevent the
best growth. The ground must be
warm before they are put in.
The method of seeding peas depends
upon the use which is to be made OF
them. For hay they should, as a rule
be sown with a grain drill at the rate
of four to five pecks per acre. Some
men put in as much as two bushels
and while this gives a fine texture tc
the hay, it usually reduces the amount
of seed formed.
On the other hand, they are often
sown at the rate of three pecks pei
acre, but, excepting for seed purposes
or on land particularly adapted to the
crop, such as the lowlands of south
east Missouri, this is rarely enough.
A small-seeded variety, like the New
Era, will require less seed per acre
than the larger seeded varieties like
the whippoorwill.
For seed purposes, cowpeas are best
sown somewhat thinner than for hay
three pecks usually being better than
five. They should not be broadcast
either for hay or for seed on the up
lands of the state. Such a method is
wasteful Of seed and uncertain as to q
stand.
They may also be sown for seed with
the corn planter and cultivator, MAX
ing the rows the same distance apart
as for corn, or the rows may be placed
at half the distance of corn rows, by
going over the land twice and strad-
ding every other row.
In this case they are more difficult
to cultivate, as the rows are too close
together for convenient cultivation. II
is usually necessary in this case to
take off one shovel on each gang of q
six-shovel cultivator, and, if the axle
to avoid running on two rows while
cultivating a third.
Peas sown at the usual rate for hay
generally make good yield of seed
in favorabl seasons. AS a matter OF
fact, the yield of threshed peas de-
pends not only upon the season, but
also upon the soil and the variety.
A medium to thin soil will produce
more seed than a rich soil, and a
sandy soil more than a clay soil, as a
rule. Varieties like the New Era,
which is early, and which has little
tendency to vine, will yield more peas
than a later vining variety like the
clay.
Another method of putting in peas
in rows is by means Of a grain drill,
where a part Of the holes are stop
ped. Where every third hole is al
lowed to run and care Is used in driv-
ing, the rows can be placed about 80
inches apart, which Is a good dis
tance.
Cowpeas for hay or seed should be
cut with a mower and If the weather
is favorable they may be cured in the
swath. This method Is not usually
satisfactory, however, as the leaves
break off badly in iaking up, especi-
ally If one or two rains should fall
while they are curing.
When cured in this way hay ted
= In L.,
Fastening the curing.
A better way of curing in average
seasons is to cut them in the evening
or on a cloudy day so as to allow the
leaves to evaporate as when well
wilted, rake into light windrows to
cure. A side delivery rake can be used
to great advantage in turning these
windrows if the peas are not too viney.
They may also be placed in rather tall
narrow shocks after they are partially
cured, and allowed to finish curing in
the shock.
Peas planted in rows usually fall
down badly and are much more diff
cult to cut than where drilled. If they
have been cultivated, the ridges of
soft dirt interfere somewhat. There
is on the market device consisting Of
long fingers which are placed on the
mower to lift the peas and allow
the cutter bar to run under them.
Cowpeas can be threshed with per-
feet success only with a pea or bean
huller. A wheat thresher may be
used, but it cracks the peas so badly
as to make 1t impractical except for
some of the smaller-seeded varieties.
A wheat thresher may be modified
so as to give fair satisfaction by u.s.
ing a large pulley on the cylinder SO
as to reduce the speed, while the rest
of the machine is geared up to run at
the usual rate.
In this connection it should be said
that the introduction of pea hullers
should be encouraged where peas are
grown. The average yield Of peas is
about 9 to 10 bushels per acre. They
may run as low as bushels, or as high
as 25 bushels.
Cowpeas may be seeded in the corn
at the last cultivation, or they may
be put in the row where the corn is
planted. In the first case, they are
best drilled in with a one-horse drill
at the rate of two or three pecks per
acre when the corn is laid by.
To be sure of stand, it is best to
lay by the corn few days earlier than
usual They may be broadcast and
plowed in, but this method is not SO
sure of securing a stand as is the
method of drilling them.
Where planted in the row, the best
plan is to use a special cowpea plant
ing attachment on the corn planter
These attachments are now on the
market. In this case, a gallon and q
half of peas should be used.
The difficulty of putting peas in the
row is that corn is usually planted
about two weeks before it is entirely
safe to SOW peas. This plan is very
commonly practiced, however.
Peas planted in this way will make
more seed than where they are sowr