The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-02-13
COWPEA HAY
Reply to an Inquiry from a Kentucky
Correspondent

Correspondent.
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 il is desired.
We will cover the subject in gen
eral way but if there is any specific
phase of it about which You desire
further information will be pleased to
take it up on hearing from you.
Authorities agree that cowpea hay
Is very valuable forage crop, ranging
close to clover and alfalfa, and is con
sidered better than timothy Some
stock raisers use their coVpea h'y
for feeding cattle and sheep bat lr, Ter
timothy and other grasses for feet ding
horses, claiming that they are better
for horses than a lcguminous crop
In some cases this may be true. ut
cowpea hay. clol er hay, etc, are fed
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-
ton. 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 ont for is to plant
late enough to avoid danger from cold
weather in the spring. \ few cold
days after the cowpeas are up may do
serious damage by stunning the plants.
The ground should be in tirst-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 ar to be used If grown for
hay, the peas may he 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 little finer texture of hay,
but will not WELD as many peas as il
sown in smaller quantities
A corn drlli Is ol'eh useu ny pug
slhS up hulh"ci Vi me u'i'' oi'
spouts, and in this way drilling the
rows about - inches apart. The corn
planter Is u'ed III some ud'es' anu '"e
peas are cultivated the same as
drilled corn. or the rows may be
double, thereby making the distance
!, : Ia1 vida =
betWeeh them just olle-iaI' ds "i"e DIS
between the rows ol corn
'oWpeas are oIteh so"h n'"duc'S''
and give very GOOD results Wheh SOW Il
IN inns way II requires more seeu
than II the dfii' Is USED Inns hle'hou
is never U.S. "heh '"e crop - sio"h
Tor seeu' ON cas- are "iso we"
soWh WIN corn the last 'liiie vi GUM
Natioh. Inns IL perhaps "e' ""se ~
the e'ec' 'he "" peas ma VII wv
buildlnH ND OF the soil
Inc Prlhclpai o''''t'i'H J." S'o,' lux
coWpea nay Is th"l "h'ch co''eS II ON
curing 'he same III .oine c'feS .ne
mixture OF co"peas Win So"'e o'"ei
crop IS easier 10 sloN 'iiah "" lV"4
alone. 'as iouiid a' Tue iaoa'i'
experimental s'atioh ina, niPpO''
Will cowreas complieu with 'eriii'"
Nil"'' Sio' 7o'u ''
is some dlherehoe III '"e 'ii'V VI ''
turing OF 'hese Two oropH' "u. "''
great enough 10 seriously aheo' u.s.
results lhis eAeli lii'ei''"l s'"' ''"
recommends the sI""i ING VI VEL man
Millet win the co"peas as ''ie'"S
OF aiding the curing Oh same.
In harvesting co"peas loi nay care
should ne eAerciseu 10 MANURE 'ne .i0p
so that the leaves VIII not oe los.'
This part OF the plant Is very MUIR
tious, and the usual me'hou' anu one
That has gwen lair sa'lsiac'iOh' - ~
cut Tue peas WI" a
the morning when the season IS iaHor
able, then STIR up by the use Vi nay
tedder as soon as the tops nave oe
come well wllted. II no teuuer Is
available, the hay should De rakeo III
to windrows, and allowed 10 remain III
this condition uhtil the exposed pai's
ure thoroughly cured pu' not uhlil Tue
leaves will break on 1t should then
be shocked In small COCKS, ana az
lowed to stand IN THIS cohultloh ior
two or three days II the weather VIII
permit.
The use OF canvas covers LOT nay
cocks during the wet weather mas peeh