The Marshall republican., 1912-08-16

Hepi, 10 an Inquiry from q Kentucky
Correepondentu

Repi, 70 an Inquiry from . Kentucky
Correspondent
Through our branch Office at New
Albany. Indiana. we have been re
questsd to furnish you information re
garding cowpeas for hay. In comply.
ing with this request will say that
we ere always pleased to furnish such
Information whenever II is desired.
We will cover the subject in a gen.
eral way, but II there is any specific
phase Of II about which you desire
further Information will be pleased TO
take II up on hearing from you.
Authorities agree that cowpea hay
is a very valuable forage crop, ranging
close TO clover and alfalfa, and IL con
sidered better than timothy. Some
stock raisers use their cowpea hay
for feeding cattle and sheep but prefer
timothy and other grasses for feeding
horses. claiming that they are better
for horses than a leguminous crop.
In some cases this may be true. but
cowpea hay. clover hay, etc. are fed
quite generally to work horses and
colts.
The time for seeding ranges from
last OF April to eve as late as the
middle Of July. depending upon loca.
ton. In the latitude Of Kentucky be
tween the FIRST OF May and the middle
OF June In usually considered the best
time for planting cowpeas. However.
even when planted later than this they
give very satisfactory returns. The
n thing TO watch out for IL to plant
late enough to avoid danger from cold
weather In the spring. A few cold
days after the cowpeas are up may do
serious damage by stunning the plants.
The ground should be in frst-class
condition. and should be thoroughly
warm before the seed In planted.
The method OF planting depends
somewhat on the purpose for which
the peas are to be used. II grown for
hay. the peas may be drilled by the
use Of a corn driIl at the rate OF
four or five pecks to the acre. Some.
however. prefer to put In as high az
two bushels. This latter quantity
will give a little finer texture OF hay.
but will not yield az many peas as II
sown In smaller quantities.
A corn drill In often used by plug
ging up a number OF the delivery
spouts, and in this way drilling the
row about 30 inches apart. The corn
planter IL used In some cases. and the
peas are cultivated the same as
drilled corn, or tho rows may be
double. thereby making the distance
between them Just one-half as wide a.
between the rows OF corn
Cowpeas are often sown broadcast,
and give very good results when sown
In this way. II requires more seed
than II the drill 10 used. This method
10 never used when the crop 10 grown
for seed. Cowpeas are also often
sown with corn the last time OF cult.
walton. This Ia perhaps because OF
the effect the cowpeas have on the
building up OF the son. . lihr
The principal dif1cuity IN growing
cowpea hay Is that which comes from
curing the same In some cases the
mixture OF cowpeas with some other
crop 10 easier TO grow than cowpeas
alone. II a found nj the Alabama
experimental station that Whippoor.
will cowpeas combined with German
Millet grow n good forage crop. There
In some difference In the time OF ma
turing OF these two crops but is not
great enough TO seriously AFFECT the
results. This experimental station
recommends the growing OF German
Millet with the cowpeas NJ a means
OF aiding the curing OF same.
In harvesting cowpeas for hay. caro-
should be exercised TO handle the crop
10 that the leaves will not be lost.
This part OF the plant II very nutri-
tious, and the usual method. and one
that has given fair satisfaction. 10 70
cut the peas with q mower early In
the morning when the season 10 favor.
able, then stir up by the use OF 0 hay
tedder a. soon 10 the tops have be-
come we'll wilted. n no tedder 10
available. the hay should be raked In
to windows. and allowed to remain In
this condition until the exposed parts
are thoroughly CURED. but not until the
leaves win break on. II should then
be shocked IN small cocks. and al
lowed to stand In this condition for
two or three days u the weather VII
permit. 7.
The use OF canvas cover for hay
cocks during the wet weather has BEEN
found to be very satisfactory, but III
IL also rather expensive. Cowpea hay
should not be stored unless It - thor
oughIy cured. because II stored before.
Il is apt to become mouldy and spoil.
Cowpeas should be cut for hay when
the leaves begin to turn yellow. The
more mature the plant. the easier and
quicker will the hay be cured. and. on
the other hand. II the plants are green
. longer time win be necessary 10 cure
for hay.
Under favorable conditions II has
been found that the length Of time
rao..leaA A lnaluea uaaa after sorklng