The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-05-17
PLANT VELVET BEANS,
SOY BEANS OR COW PEAS
A Trio Of Most Valuable Crops-Con-
ditions Under Which Each
Should BE Grown.

Velvet beans, soy beans and COW
peas are the most valuable trio Of
plants under average conditions that
can be grown on the farms in Louis
lana and other Southern states. 1t is
not claimed that they are satisfactory
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 up
the fertility Of productive soils, and
as crops for feed.
As to which Of the crops should bo
planted on farm, this depends on
the use to be made Of the crop and
the conditions under which it is to
grow. For soil improvement the one
that will make the greatest growth
under given conditions is the best.
When the crop is harvested as hay
and only the stubble left, the benefit
to the land is only about one-fourth
az great as when the whole plant is
turned under. The benefit from the
crop extends through one, two or
three years, depending upon the char
acter of the soil. On sandy soil the
effect is dissipated very largely the
first year, while on heavier land the
benefits are marked through at least
three years.
Velvet Beans Best For Fertilizer.
Velvet beans is the best of the
three where only the fertilizing 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 Speckled,
Chinese, Yokohama and Lyon varieties
Will produce seed anywhere in Louis
lama In the opinion Of experts, the
Early Speckled and Chinese are the
best varieties to grow under average
conditions. Corn should always be
planted on the land where 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 as support which In
creases the crop of vines and makes
the production Of seed more certain.
Velvet beans are 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 Speckled va
riety should be planted thick enough
to have a stalk every IL inches. The
Chinese, or running varieties, can be
given two or three times this space.
Soy Beans For Hay and siIage.
Soy beans are preferable to either
Of the two other crops under consid-
GRAFTON where the production Of hay
or silage is the object. or where it is
desired to use the seed as money
crop as substitute for cotton. They
are, as a rule, not generally grown
| strictly as soil improving crop.
They do not do so well as 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 OF
July, and on this account is one Of
the most valuable crops to follow the
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. The
soil must be well plowed, thoroughly
narrowed and the planting done right
The seed should be covered not moro
than one to one and one-half inches.
Rows for soy beans should be from
two to three and one-haif feet In
width. depending on the fertility Of
the land. Planting should be done with
a corn planter and the cultivating
done entirely with the plow. AS long
rs cotton seed brings more than $1,000
per ton at the oil mills, soy beans
may be grown as satisfactory money
CROP Fifteen or twenty bushels are
considered as satisfactory yields,
though there are records of more
than forty bushels per acre.
/ Cow Peas Good Catch Crop.
The COW pea is so well known that
a discussion Of it need not be carried
to any extent 1t is profitable catch
crop on the best grades of land where
It is desirable to keep up the fertil.
ity and where the crop to follow must
be planted In the fall-too early to
follow a velvet bean crop Cowpeas are
not satisfactory on poorly drained land
nor in seasons of extreme rainfall
The seed crop. also. is very unccr
tain and the price Of seed is frequent.
" prohibitive.
w. R. Perkins,
Live Stock Extension Service, Louis
lana State University.