The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-04-09
prepared by the United States Depart
mont of A1ricultire

prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Ag%riculture.)
Any system of agriculture which
does not include some leguminous
crops will ultimately lessen the pro-
ductivity of the soil and make neces-
sary the purchase at considerable ex-
pense of fertilizers containing nitro
gen. On the other hand, the proper
use of leguminous czops will maintain
or e increase productivity. At the
present time the cowpea is probably
the most valuable legume for the cot
ton belt. 1t is to the South what red
clover is to the North and alfalfa to
the West.
Not only does the cowpea benefit the
soil by adding nitrogen to it, but it
can be made to supply southern mar
kets with much of the hay which is
now shipped in from the North and
West. Thus it aids in the production
of live stock, without which it is i'm
possible to secure the maximum re-
turns from any farm.
These facts have been familiar to
progressive farmers for years, but the
high price Of seed in the past pre-
vented as widespread a use of the
crop as was desirable. Improved ma
chinery, however, has now done much
to remove this difficulty and may well
do more in the future. When harvest
ed for seed, the crop should be cut
with a mower or self-rake reaper when
half OF more of the pods are ripe.
After it has become thoroughly dry, it
may be thrashed with an ordinary
grain separator, with some modifica-
lions, with a two-cylinder cowpea
tnrasher, or with a one-cylinder spe-
cial machine which a number of in
genious devices make the most salts
factory of all.
Exclusive of the crops value in inn
proving the soil. cowpeas are most
useful as hay. Good cowpea hay has a
high percentage of digestible protein
nearly our times that of timothy hay
and as a feed is very nearly as
valuable as alfalfa or wheat bran.
When it includes a fair number Of
ripe peas it has been found satisfac-
tory when fed alone to stock at work,
and a be used very successfully as a
maintenance ratio. for horses, mules,
cattle, sheep and even hogs. When
corn and ~cottOnseed meal are high
priced, experiments indicate that cow
pea hay can be substituted to adj
vantage. In the production of milk
and butter it appears that one and one
fourth pounds of chopped pea hay is
equivalent to a pound of wheat bran
and three pounds to one OF cotton
seed meal. Splendid results are also
obtained from feeding the seed, either
whole or in broken pieces, to poultry,
though at the prices that have hither-
to prevailed this is scarcely prac-
ticab1e.
In the production of cOwpea hay
difficulty is sometimes experienced in
curing he large growth of succulent
vines. For this a cowpeas are
frequently grown in mixtures, a prac-
tice which makes the curing much
easier. Sorghum is a favorite crop for
this purpose and it's use usually results
in increasing the yield of hay consid-
erably. Millet, soy beans and John.
son grass are also used.
At present, however, cowpeas are
most frequently grown with corn,
since the farmer cur in this way
a corn crop, sufficient seed for the
next season, and either a hay crop OF
a certain amount of grazing for his
stock. On many dairy farms the cow
pea is grown with orn in order to
make ensilage, for which it has proved
excellent. Though it is sometimes ad'
visable, the use of cowpeas for pas
ture is not, as q rule, the best farm
practice. Unless care is exercised,
bloating, especially in bad weather,
may result. The small expense in
volved is a powerful inducement, and
when the hay is grown with corn II
Is frequently grazed by hogs.
Detailed information in regard to
the planting and harvesting of the
crop Is contained in farmers bulletin
31s, "Cowpeas," Of the department OF
agriculture, which will be sent free
on request. The bulletin also dis.
cusses the merits Of the various va
rieties. and suggests the use Of the
crop in some one Of the following 10
.tdaons:
S. ~ Cotton. three yesrs; corn and
coas! .rd E.,e,..