Milford chronicle., 1912-07-26
cowPEA HAY
Reply TO an Inquiry from Kentucky
Correspo ndent.

Reply to an Inquiry from a Kentucky
Correspo ndent.
Through our branch Office at New
Albany, Indiana. We have been re
quested to furnish you information re-
garding cowpeas for hay. In comply
ing with this request will say that
we are always pleased to furnish such
information whenever it is desired.
We will cover the subject in a gen.
eral way, but if there is any specific
phase of it about which you desire
further information will be pleayed to
take it up on hearing from YOU
Authorities agree that cOwpea hay
is a very vauable forage crop, ranging
close to clover and alfalfa, and is con
sidered better than timothy. Some
stock raisers use their cowpea hay
for feeding cattle aud sheep but prefer
timothy and other grasses for feeding
horses, claiming that they are better
for horses than a Iegumincus crop
In some cases this may be true, but
cowpea hay, clover hay, etc, are Tea
quite generally to work horses and
colts.
The time for seeding ranges from
last of April to even as late as the
middle of July, depending upon loca-
tion. In the latitude of Kentucky be
tween the first of May and the middle
Of June is usually considered the best
time for planting cowpeas. However,
even when planted later than this they
give very satisfactory returns. The
one thing to watch out for is 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 stunting the plants.
The ground should be in frst-class
condition, and should be thoroughly
warm before the seed is planted.
The method of planting depends
somewhat on the purpose for which
the peas are to be used. If grown for
hay, the peas may be drilled by the
use of corn drill at the rate Of
four or five pecks to the acre. Some,
however. prefer TO put in as high as
two bushels. This latter quantity
will give a little finer texture of hay,
but will nos yield as many peas as Il
sown in smellar quantities.
A corn drill is often used by plug
ging up number of the delivery
spouts. and in this way drilling the
rows about 30 inches apart. The corr
planter is used in some cases, and the
peas are cultivated the same as
drilled corn, or the rows may be
double, thereby making the distance
between them just one-half as wide as
between the rows Of corn.
Cowpeas are often sown broadcast
and give very good results when soVn
in this way. It requires more seed
than if the drill is used. This method
is never used when the crop is grown
for seed. Cowpeas are also often
sown with corn the last time of cult
walton. This is perhaps because of
the effect the cOwpeas have on the
building up of the soil.
The principal difficulty in growing
cOwpea hay is that which comes from
curing the same. In some cases the
mixture of cOwpeas with some other
crop is easier to grow than cowpeas
alone. It was found at the Alabama
governmental station that Whippoor-
will cowpeas combined with German
MiIIet grow a coed forage crop. There
is some difference in the time of ma
turing of these two crops, but is net
great enough to seriously affect the
results. This experimental station
recommends the growing of German
Millet with the cowpeas as a means
Of aiding the curing Of same.
In harvesting cowpeas for hay, care
should be exercised to handle the crop
so that the leaves will not be lost. |
This part of the plant is very nutri- |
tious and the usual method, and one
that has given fair satisfaction, is to
cut the peas with a mower early IN
the morning when the season is favor |
able. then stir up by the use OF hay |
todder as soon as the tops have be-
come well wilted If no tedder IS
available the hay should be raked in
to windrows, and allowed to remain IN
tbis condition until the exposed parts
are thoroughly cured, but not until the
leaves will break off. It should then
be shocked in small cocks. and al
Iowed to stand in this condition for
two or three days if the weather will
permit.
The use of canvas covers for hay
cocks during the wet weather has been
found to be very satisfactory but II
is also rather expensive. Cowpea hay
sbould not be stored unless it is thor
ongbIv cured, because if stored before
a Is ant 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
onieker will the hay be cured, and on
tbe other hand, if the plants are green
= longer time will be necessary to cure
for hay. 3.
Under favorable conditions it has
heeD found that the length Of tine
reouired to mature peas after sowin9
varies to some extent, but generally
-. vv.rren New Hybrid will mature