Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-03-31
By l.. w. Osburn. Agricultural Exper iment Station, University of Ark anSaS

warns up in spring it is ready for hay or for grazing by hogs after the middle of July or in early August. Planted following small grain it pro- duces a good yield of hay or provides grazing for hogs in early fall. It's abil- ity to resist drouth is we'll known and the cowpea fourishes during the hot test summer weather Cowpcas may be planted either in rows or broad cast. Seeding in rows is an advan- tage because less seed is required. The rows should be 2S to 36 inches or just wide enough for cultivation. About one-half bushel of seed to the acre is required, Broadcast seeding at the rate of 60 to 20 pounds to the acre is an advantage on good land in that no cultivation is necessary.
 Can Be Planted in Combination With
 Other Crops.
 Cowpeas may be planted in cor1bi- nation with corn and this is especial ly desirable from the standpoint of soil improvement. However, cowpeas grow exceedingly we'll in combination with sorghum and Sudan grass. On good lands the planting of cowpeas in the row with the corn is often prac- tlced to good advantage when the crop is being utilized for livestock. l Cowpeas may be planted broadcast in the field when the corn is waist high i and make very desirable growth which can be utilized to good advan- ;age by livestock. It is very desir- able practice, especially on the ordi- nary. uplands over the state, to plant eOWpeas between wide rows of corn. CoWpeas do not seem to compete with the corn and good yields of both crops may be secured. For this purpose the l sowpea is an advantage over the soy bean since the cowpea utilizes most 1 of the entire season for it's growth, whereas the soy bean reaches matur- ity, leaves falling off and the seed shedding all at one time.
 Varieties To Grow.
 Varieties of coWpeas differ in time of maturity and in manner of growth. ] Varieties having bunch habit are de- sirable since they may be cut more easily with moving machine. There are number of varieties which are very desirable and suitable for grow ing in this state. The Brabham and Iron are good varieties since they are wilt resistant. The New Era cowpea Is a medium early variety, especially popular on bottom lands where too much vining of the plants is not de- l sirable. The Whippoorwill and Croft 1 are both good seed and forage produc- FITS under most conditions. Certain strains of black cowpeas are popular because of their late maturity and the fact that the seed can stand out in he weather for some time without rotting.
 The Soy Bean.
 In addition to the cowpea the soy bean should not be forgotten since 1t Is also legume, grows we'll on prop arly inoculated soil, increases the ni- .rogen content of the soil considera- ply. fits well into a crop rotation and hrives during the hottest summer weather. It will grow on a variety of soils. Different varieties are grown under the same climat!a conditions as corn.
 Prepare Seed Bed We'll. The seed bed for the soy bean must ,e well prepared and planting can be lone any time after the severe frosts Ire over until July l.
 Varieties For Seed Production.
 The Mammoth Yellow is the most | common variety grown in this state. t is late in time of maturity and pro- iuces well of both seed and forage. The Mammoth Yellow has large vel ow seeds with high oil content and Is much in demand for paint manufact Ire. Other varieties such as the Haber- ! andt and Medium Yellow have seeds imilar in appearance but are earlier 1 n maturing and make lighter growth If forage. Other varieties very suit ble for feed and forage production. ut not so commonly grown, are the Jirginia, Arlington, Wilson and Pe- ing. These varieties have somewhat ner stems than the Mammoth and re an advantage for forage produc- ion. When harvesting soy beans for sed, cut promptly when leaves ave fallen and before pods begin to urst. If cutting is delayed, there is anger of loss from shattering. When sing the crop for hay it is probably sst to cut the crop when the pods
 fo fill.
 raise coWpeaS and scy