The farmer and mechanic., 1915-03-09
COWPEAS IN THE COTTON BELT
fN. !. Morse, Scientific Assistant, For
a1c-Irop Investigations, bureau of
Giant IuuuStryl

aIc-IrOp Inv eSuyasiOnS, bureau of 1
liant lndustry.)
The Cowpea is at the preSen time
tpe hest known and most extensively |
.rown leguminous crop in the cotton |
holt Its value for hay, grazing, catch
and cover crops, and for soil improve
ment is we'll known and thoroughly |
appreciated by farmers. The feeding |
value of the forage has long been rec |
oeniZed and it is used for all kinds of |
live stock. Cowpea hay has high |
percentage of digestible protein and is |
fujly as valuable for feed as red-cloyer
hay AS green-manure crop this |
piant greatly increases the humus and
nitrogen content of the soil The seeds |
~ the cowpea are also commonly en-
ulOyed for human food, being used in
che pod, shelled green, and shelled
dried
on = very large proportion of the
area planted to COwpeaS no effort is
made to harvest the seed. Moreover,
a large percentage or the seed harvest
cd is picked by hand. Under these
conditions the increased culture of he
cowpea has brought about high price
of seed. which without doubt mas re-
tarded q greater use Of the crop. The
demand for seed of well-known va
rieties has kept the price in recent
years SO high as to make cowpea
seed production a most profitable line
by machinery is now carried on very
suCCessfully in several communities
localities we'll suited to the produc-
tiou of cowpea seed will find it high
ly profitable to grow seed on a large
scale. especially if the best machin-
ele for handling the crop is employed.
soil and Fertilizer Adaptations.
I.e Cowpea can be depended upon
g. succeed on practically all types Of
.l-1Talnpd
SOILS than most other cultivated le-
gumes. soil of medium fertility is
considered best for the production Of
tniE crop. Sandy and sandy-loam
soils are most suitable for seed pro-
dUcton, while the heavier soils pro-
tuce more heritage and less seed.
The best results on soils of rather low
fertility will be had by applying 900
to 100 pounds of acid phosphate and
700 pounds Of potash to the acre.
Soil Preparations.
Although the cowpea will grow un-
der rather unfavorable conditions o.
soil preparation, the best results arr
90 be obtained on well-prepared land
The same preparation and cultivation
ordinarily practiced for corn are rec
commended for cowpeas.
Time Of Planting.
'lanting should be done when tn,
soli IS warm and not too wet, as tn
seed will then germinate very readily
Nery early paintings require a create
length OF time for maturity than lat
paintings and are of advantage onl
where the crop is to be used for soil
ins, green manuring, or pasturins
C0wpeas may be planted as late a
mid summer for hay or green ma
nure
Method and Rate of Planting.
The method Of planting depend
upon the purpose for which the GRO
Is grown. For the production. {
seed the best pratice is to plant i
from 20 to so pounds of seed to tn
acre When the crop is to be use
Tor forage or soil Improvement.
broadcasted or drilled crop is prefer
able, using from 60 to 80 pounds
seed to the acre. In regions of lgl
rainfall thin planting is recommend
ed Where there is ample moistul
thicker planting is desirable. A CO
ton planter may be used in TO
paintings or. if available, a gra
drill. the width of rows being space
by covering the feed cups not to
used Cultivation should begin
soon as the plants appear above II
ground, and the crop should recei'
At least three civilizations.
Harvesting.
Fhe time of harvesting depen
primarily upon the use to be ma
or the crop. For hay, cowpe
should be cut about the time the fiji
pods begin to turn yellow. Whe
seed is the object. cutting should
delayed until one-half or more of t
pods are mature In harvesting f
seed production a mower with
punching attachment is most sat
factory. but the self-rake reaper c
Do used to advantage.
ThraShing.
Thrashing may be done at a
lfne after the pods are thorough
dry. When grown in quantity a
picked. the pods are common
thrashed with a pea fuller. VIII
the crop has been cured like hay
may be thrashed with an Ordins
grain thrasher by removing some
the concaves and running the cyl
der at a low and even speed Cab,
800 revolutions a minte) to prev