The Era-leader., 1917-04-12
PLANT VELVET BEANS,
SOY BEANS OR COW PEAS
A Trio OF Most Valuable GropS-eo"
ditions Under which Each
should &c Grown.

~ ny, ,hc ,,,n~t valuable TRIO VI
n,on,s nn1cr average conditions tlas
can hc grown on th" farn'S III 'ou's-
lana and other Southern states. 1t 10
no, claimed that they arr satisfactory
",orov crors" iN the commonly ac
ccn,cd meaning Of that trrm. lnei.
chicf value is in their power 10 ouliu
-, noor and WORN out soils or keep up
the fertility Of productive SOILS anu
as crops for feed,
As 70 which Of thc crops should DC
r,on,d ON a faym. this depends on
tho uss 10 be made Of the crop ana
IN, conditions under which IT IS 10
GROW FOR soil Improvement the one
that will make the greatest grown
under given conditions is the best.
When the crop is harvested as nay
and only the stubble left, the penent
10 the land is only about one'1ourth
as great as when the whole plant -
turned under. The benefit from tEe
crop extends through one, two or
three years, depending upon the cnar'
acter Of the soil. On sandy soil the
effect is dissipated very largely the
first wear. 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
lana. 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 bear"
planted between the hills or in alter
| nate rows. some time in April The
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 part
of the vines. The Early Speckled va
riety should be planted thick enough
to have stalk every Il inches The
Chinese, or running varieties, can be
given two or three times this space.
Soy Beans For Hay and silage.
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 a money
crop as a substitute for cotton. The!
are, as a rule, not generally grow1
strictly as soil improving crop
They do not do so we'll as catc'
E crop in corn nor when planted broad
cast as cow peas or velvet beans. So,
y beans may be planted any time from
+ the middle Of April to the middle o
q July, and on this account is one O
= the most valuable crops to follow tn
= oat crop. For successful growth, so,
beans require that the land. be put Il
first class condition before Planting
= To plant soy beans under the poo
/ conditions frequently found In grow
= ing cowpeas is waste of time. Tn
:. soil must be we'll powed, thorough
n narrowed and the planting done righ
.r The seed should be covered not NOR
# than one to one and one-half inche
g Rows for soy beans should be frol
y. two to three and one-haif feet
IS width, depending on the fertility {
}. the land. Planting should be done wit
corn planter and the cultivatir
IT done entirely with the plow. AS lor
d as cotton seed brings more than $30.(
ID per ton at the oil mills, soy bear
in may be grown as satisfactory none
It, crop. Fifteen or twenty bushels al
Of considered as satisfactory yield
e. though there are records Of mo
a than forty bushels per acre.
le Cow Peas Good Catch Crop.
le The COW pea is so we'll known tn
III a discussion Of it need not be carrie
le to any extent. 1t is a profitable cat,
~ crop on the best grades of la I'd whe
u u it is desirable to keep up the fert
n ity and where the crop to follow mu
- be planted in the fall-too early
~ follow ve.vet bean crop. Cowpeas q
49, not satisfactory on poorly drainedl la
~, nor in seasons of extreme rainfa
ID The seed crop. also, is very unc'
10. tain and the price Of seed is frequel
". ly prohibitive.
IN W. R. Perkins,
,r Live Stock Extension Service, Lou
lana State University.