The weekly Iberian., 1917-05-12
PLANT VELVET BEANS,
SOY BEANS OR COW PEAS
A Trio Of Most Valuable C~ops--Con-
dltIons Under Whoh Each
Should Be Grown.

Velvet beans. soy beans and COW
peas are the most valuable trio oi
plants under average conditions that
can be grown on the farms In Louis
lana and other Southern states. n Is
not claimed that they are satisfa ctory
money crops" In the commonly ac-
cepted meaning OF that term. Their
chief value is in their power to build
up poor and worn out soils or keep ap
the fertility OF productive soils. and
as crops for feed.
As to which OF the crops should be
planted on a farm. this depends on
the use TO be made of the crop and
the conditions under which It Ia Ia
grow. For soil improvement. tho one
that will make the greatest growth
under given conditions Is the best.
When the crop is harvested ~ hay
and only the stubble left the benefit
as great as when the whole plant 10
turned under. The benefit from the
crep extends through one. two or
three years, depending upon the char
acter of the soil On sandy soil tho
effect Is dissipated very largely tho
first year while on heavier land the
benefits are marked through at least
three years.
Velvet Beans Best Fer Fertilizer.
Velvet beans is tho best OF ths
three where only the fertilisinG effects
Are desired and on medium to poor
grades of land we believe they should
always be planted IN preference to
other crops. The seed OF velvet beans
are not as expensive as either OF the
other two and the Early Specklsd.
Chinese, Yokohama and Lyon varieties
will produce seed anywhere In Louis
lana. In the opinion OF sxp~rts. the
Early Speckled and Chinese are Tue
best vaf1etles to grow undsr average
conditions. Corn should always be
planted on the land whore velvet
beans are to be grown and the beans
planted between the hills or In alter
nate rows. some time in April. Tho
corn serves rs support which In
creases the crop Of vines and makes
the production Of seed moro certain.
Velvet beans arc not recommended
for any purpose that requires harvest
ing OF the vines. The seed may be
gathered after frost and live stock put
in the field to consume all or a part
OF the vines. The Early Speokled va
riety should be planted thick enough
to have a stalk every II inches. The
Chinese. or running varieties. can he
given two or three times this space.
Soy Beans For Hay and siIaue.
Soy beans are preferable to either
Of the two other crops under consid.
GRAFTON where the production of hay
or silage Ia the object, or whore II Is
desired to use the seed as a money
crop as substitute for cotton. They
are. az rule, not generally grown
strictly as soil improving crop.
They do not do so well AZ 4 catch
crop in corn nor when planted broad
cast as COW peas or velvet beans. Soy
beans may be planted any time from
the middle of April to the middle ol
July, and on this account Ia one ol
the most valuable crops to follow tho
oat crop. For successful growth. soy
beans require that the land be put In
first class condition before planting
To plant soy beans under the poor
conditions frequently found In grow
ing cowpeas Is a waste Of time. Tho
soil must be well piowed, thoroughly
narrowed and the planting done right
The seed should be covered not more
than one to one and one-half inch es
Rows for soy beans should be from
two to three and one-half feet In
width. depending on the fertility Of
the land. Planting should be done with
corn planter and the cultivatins
done entirely with the plow. Az Ions
as cotton seed brings more than $50 OF
per ton at tho OIL mills, soy bears
may be grown AZ a satisfac ctory money
crop. Fifteen or twenty bushels are
considered AZ satisfactory yields
though there are records Of more
than forty bushels per acre.
Cow Peas a Good Catch Crop.
The COW pea is SO we'll known tina,
a discussion OF 1t need not be carried
TO any extent II Is a profitable catch
crop on the best grades OF land where
it is desirable to keep up the fsrtil
ity and where the crop TO follow mus
be planted in the fall--too early u
follow velvet bean crop CowpeaA ar,
not satisfactory on poorly drained lant
nor In seasons Of extreme rainfall
The seed crop, also. Is very unocr
tain and the price OF seed is frequent
ly prohibitive.
w. r. Perkins,
Live Stock Extension Service. Louis
lana State University.