The Holt County sentinel., 1912-07-12
COWpEA HAY
Reply to an Inquiry from q Kentucky
Correspo ndent.

Reply to an Inquiry from q Kentucky
Correspondent.
Through our branch Office at New
Albany. Indiana. We have been re
q,iested to furnish you information re.
gardins cowpeas for hay. In comply.
Ing with this request will say that
we are always pleased to furnish such
Information whenever II Is desired.
We will cover the subject In a gon.
cral 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
II a very vauable forage crop. ranging
close to clover and alfalfa. and In con.
sidered better than timothy. Some
stock raisers use their cowpea hay
for feeding cattle and sheep but prefer
timothy and other srssses for feeding
horses. claiming that they are better
for horses than o leguminous crop
In some eases this may be true. hut
cowpea hay. clover hay, etc. are fed
quite generally to work horses and
colts.
The time FOR seeding ranges from
last Of April IN even as late a. the
middle Of July. depending upon loca.
ton. In the latitude OF Kentucky he.
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 10 watch out for Ii TO plant
late enough 10 avoid danger from cold
weather In the spring. A few cold
days after the cowpeas are M may do
serious damage by stunting tho plants.
The ground should be In tirst.class
condition. and should he thoroughly
warm before the seed Is planted.
The method Of planting depends
somewhat on the purpose for which
the peas are to be used n grown for
hay. the peas may be drilled by the
use ~ a corn drill AT the rate OF
four or Ave pecks to the acre Some.
however. prefer to put In ar high AZ
two bushels. This latter quantity
will give n little finer texture Of hay
but viii not yield as many peas ~ "
sown In smaller quantities
A corn driil In often used by plug
cling up number OF the delivery
spouts. and In this way drilling the
rows about ~ inches apart. The corn
planter IL used In some cases. and the
peas are cultivated the same as
drilled corn. or tho rows may he
double. thereby making the distance
between them Just on"half NJ wide as
between the rows Of corn
Cowpeas are often sown broadcast.
and give very good results when sOw n
In this way. II requires moro seed
than " M" drill " used This method
In never used when tho crop IN grown
for seed. Cowrens ~" also often
sOwn with corn ~" ,ast TIN" ~ cuiil
walton This Is perhaps h.' a'isr ~
the effect the "owWas nav. on the
building M NJ ih' sriI
The principal difficulty ~ growing
curing the same IN some eases the
miXiur. ~ cowpcas with some other
crop IN easter 10 grow Than cowpcas
alone. II WAS found ~ the Alabama
experimental station that Whippoor.
will cowpcas combined with German
Mlillet grow n good iorae" crop There
IN some difference IN the time Of mn.
turing ~ these iwo crops. bui In not
great enough ~ seriously aTect tina
results This experimental station
recommend. the growing NJ German
Nillr' wiih The row peas as means
~ aidiur The curing IT same,
IN harvesting cow peas for hay. care
shnnld be- rvor,iS"d "a handle tho crop
So that III" leaves wili not be- lost
rhis pI,r' ui ~, plant Is very nuiri
i,ous ana the nsnsi method. and one
thai has Given far satisfaction, Is 10
cut III. pcas with mower early In
the mn,ninr when the season ~ favor
able. then siit ~ Nv the use of hay
icddc, M soon M the tnps have 10
come wcll wiiied n u" tcddor II
available. the hay should be rakod In
10 wIndrows. and allowed to remain In
this condition until the exposed PARTS
ave thoroughly cured. nut not until the
leaves win break on II should then
be- shocked In small cocks, and al.
lowed "a stand IN this condition for
two or three days u the weather VIII
nrrmit
The use ~ canvas covers for hay
cocks during the wet weather has been
found to he very satisfactory. hut II
Is also rather expensive, COwpca hay
should mot no STORED unlrss n in thOr.