The Marshall republican., 1913-05-23
COW PEAS.
Some Facts and Suggestions Con.
corning phem Gathered From
Several Sources

Ihey are n very good table NeEet
able. green or dried.
They are one OF the most nutri
tious foods for all kinds OF stock
horses. cattle sheep. hogs--fed
standing In the field or made into
hay-superior TO clover or alfalfa.
As a FERTILIZER they are second 10
no other growing crop. They are
quicker in their effect than clover;
u lrop-o0 days, OF % peas equal!
Ing two years OF clover.
They shade the ground during the
extreme heat OF summer and thus aid
In the formation OF valuable nitrates.
II turned under the vines add
much to the fertility OF the land. and
the decaying roots and vines In the
soil help to convert mineral substan-
ces into plant'food.
The roots OF pea vines go TO Il
great depth, are good subscribers op-
ening up the earth to air and water
and thus deepening the soil.
They loosen and mellow the soil
rendering II more easily cultivated.
Sown or drilled IN the standing
corn they help 10 retain the mois-
ture enabling the crop 20 go easily
through o dry spell. .
An acre OF COW peas drilled be-
tween the rows at the time OF last
cultivation OF corr IL worth, In vines
aud peas. rs stock food "a 20 Sl2.
In addition TO this ;hcy pat into
the soil through their rno's.c 10 81
worth OF nitrogen, a most valuable
fertilizer. and one In which our tired
and worm soils are greatly lacking
And further, II Is claimed. they In.
crease the yield OF corn two to three
bushels per acre by shading and mel
lowing the ground, retaining thu
moisture and %smothering out nj
weeds and grass. Here IL shown
fetal value of an acre OF COW peas
grown In standing corn. In the pro
duction OF feed and fertilizer OF Sll
to SEQ.
So, IL the price OF peas appears Il
be high the progressive farmer viii
not be deferred from planting them
seeing that for every dollar expende.
for seed he gets $40 in return.
Let no farmer neglect to plant alb
%undantly or this important crop.
Plant so,nS OF hay. plant some Of
poor land for turning under. plan
some for grazing by cows hogs an
other farm stock. And by all mean
plant and cultivate a few acres irou
which to obtain seed peas for mex
! years seeding-plant every evailabl
cultivated acre to COW peas. No GRO
Will pay a larger dividend on none
and labor expended.
The cultivation OF COW peas IL
simple process. IT Is an extremel
hardy plant, immune against all con
ditions OF weather except frost.
glories IN the heat and drought o
summer. And, II given a fair star
with them defies weeds and grass.
When grown in the corn some I'D
v%ocate and practice dropping the pea
right in the hill with the corn as tn
corn is planted. They do not inter
fere with the cultivation of the corr
as they grow quite as last as tn,
corn. And the claim Is made tina
when so planted they increase tn
yield of corn two to three bushel
per acre. Another method Is to drill
them between the rows with a on
! horse disc drill. setting the discs I
throw the dirt outward toward Ia
corn. This takes the place % tn
last cultivation. The peas smothe
completely the weeds and grass, me-
! low the soil and shade the ground
thus helping to preserve the mois
/ ture. BY this latter method the fei
, tilizing effect Is probably greater
' and possibly a larger yield Of peas
obtained. When SO drilled in tn