Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1917-04-21
PLANT VELVET BEANS.
SOY BEANS OR cow PEAy
4 Trio Of Most Valuable Crcrs-Co1
Gitions Under Which Each
Should Be Grown.

Velvet beans. SOW beans and cow
peas are the most vs'uaole trio II
plants under average conditions that
can be grown on the farms in LOUIS
lana and other Southern states. Il IS
not claimed that they are satisfactory
money crops" I'm the commonly ar
copied 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 b.
planted on a farm, this depends on
he use 10 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 stubblc left. the benefit
10 the land is only about One-fOur,h
rs great as when the whole plant is
turned under. The benefit from the
crop extends through one, two or
three wears, depending upon the char
acter Of tie soil On sandy soil the
feet IS Hssipated very largely the
first year, while on heavier land the
benefits are marked through az least
three years.
Velvet Beans Best For Fertilizer.
Velvet beans is the best Of The
three where only the fertilizng effects
are desired, and on medium 10 poor
trades of land we believe they should
always be planted in preference 10
other crops. The seed Of velvet beans
IRE not as expensive as either OF the
other two and the Early Speckled,
Chinese, Yokohama and Lyon varieties
VIII produce seed anywhere in Louis
lana. In the opinion OF experts. the
Early Speckled and Chinese are the
BEST varieties 70 grow under average
-Onditions. Corn should always he
planted on the land where velvet
)eans are TO be grown and the beans
planted between the hills or in alter.
late rows, some time in April. The
'orn serves as support which IN.
"reases the crop Of vines and makes
he production Of seed more certain
Velvet beans are not recommended
'or any purpose that requires harvest
rg OF the vines. The seed may be
altered after frost and live stock put
the field to consume all or a part
4 the vines. The Early Speckled va.
iety should be planted thick enough
. have stalk every II inches. The
hinese, or running varieties, can be
-iven two or three times this space.
Soy Beans For Hay and Silage.
Soy beans are preferable TO either
II the two other crops under consid-
9ration where the production Of hay
IT silage is the object. or where IL Is
desired to use the seed as a money
crop as a substitute for cotton. They
are, as a rule, not generally grown
'trictly as soil improving crop.
they do not do so We'll as a catch
'rop in corn nor when planted broad
asst as COW peas or velvet beans. Soy
Ieans may be planted any time from
he middle of April 10 the middle OF
July, and on this account ia one ~
he most valuable crops to follow the
at crop. For successful growth. soy
leans require that the land be put IN
irst class condition before planting.
20 plant soy beans under the Door
onditions frequently found IN grow
g cowpeas is a waste OF time. Tho
oil must be well plowed. thoroughly
'rrowed and the planting done right.
he seed should be covered not more
han one TO one and one-haf inches.
'ows for SOY beans should be from
vo to three and one-haif feet il,
~idth, depending on the fertility OF
he land. Planting should be done with
p corn planter and the cultivatirg
lone entirely with the pillow As long
IS cotton seed brings more than $50 90
'er ton Mt the oil mills, soy bears
'.y be grown as a satisfactory monev
'rop, Fifteen or twenty bushels are
Considered as satisfactory yields.
hough there are records Of more
han forty bushels per acre.
Cow Peas a Good Catch Crop.
The COW pea is so we'll known that
discussion OF it need rot be carried
o any extent It is a profitable catch
'rop on the best grades Of land where
t is desirable TO keep up the fertil.
ty and where the crop to follow must
Re planted in the fall-too early 70
follow a velvet bean crop. Cowpeas are
rot satisfactory on poorly drained land
'or in seasons Of extreme rainfall
The seed crop. also, Is very uncnr.
ain and the price'of seed is freouent.
Y prohibitive.
". R. Perkins.
i've Stock Extension Service, Louis
lana State University