224 STATE BOARD OF, AGRICULTURE. 



increase the yield ten times. It is found, however, that the most of our soils contain 

 the proper bacteria and that inoculation is unnecessary. 



Experiments to determine the digestibility of cow peas, either as green feed, silage 

 or cured hay, show it to rank higher than the average of forage crops. The winter 

 vetch is slightly more digestible than cow peas, and soy beans more than the vetch. 



COW PEAS. 

 (Tigna catjang.) 



The cow pea (Vigna catjang) is a native of the southern states, resembling in its habit 

 the field beans, and is grown for forage, either dry or green, and for green manure. 

 Until recent years this plant remained in its native home, the southern states, where 

 frosts were seldom and the season was sufficiently long for a tender plant of this nature 

 to reach mature growth. It has been gradually acclimated to northern latitudes until 

 now there are a number of varieties which will mature their seeds in the northern 

 counties of southern Michigan. This acclimating process has resulted in decreasing the 

 growth of foliage. When a cow pea seed of a rank growing variety is brought from its 

 native soil to the latitude of Michigan, it makes its enormous growth but gives little 

 promise of developing seeds. This plant is used in the south as feed for all kinds of 

 farm animals, and in all forms. . It is even employed somewhat as human food in 

 either the green or ripe state. As food for live stock it is used for pasture, is made into 

 hay, baled and sold in the market as timothy and clover is in the north, and the seeds 

 are ground and fed as grain. Owing to its being readily killed by the slightest freeze, 

 it must be grown between the periods of late spring and early fall frosts, provided one 

 wishes to raise seeds or grow the crop for hay. 



The ground for cow peas should be prepared as carefully as for any garden crop by 

 thoroughly plowing, rolling, harrowing, etc., fitting the ground to perfect condition 

 about the last of May. The seed may be sown broadcast, in drills or in hills. If the 

 ground is very rich and has been so carefully cultivated that there is no danger of weed 

 seeds growing, it will be safe to sow broadcast, otherwise, owing to the fact that the 

 seeds grow slowly at first, it is perhaps better to sow them in hills or drills in order 

 that they may be cultivated once or twice to keep down the weeds and keep the surface 

 mellow until the plants have acquired sufficient growth to partially shade the ground. 

 The rows may be any convenient distance apart, between 18 inches and 2y 2 feet. Even 

 three-foot rows would provide sufficient growth to completely cover the ground long 

 before the end of the season. If the seed is sown broadcast, it is possible and perhaps 

 wise to cultivate once or twice with a weeder. The use to which the crop is to be put 

 will determine the method of harvesting it. If cured for hay, it had best be cut with the 

 mowing machine and handled like clover hay, being careful to avoid much stirring in 

 the hot, dry sun, which will shake off many of the leaves. Even the haying machine, 

 however, will not gather all of the growth, as the vines remain close to the ground, 

 but no one should begrudge the soil a few of the stalks and leaves of this valuable 

 fertilizing crop. The period of the year, however, when the cow pea crop is ready to 

 make into hay is not good haying weather, so that where the silo is available, it would 

 perhaps be fully as well to store them there in connection, possibly, with the corn 

 silage. A number of experiments have been tried showing remarkably good results 

 from planting cow peas with the corn crop, growing a mixed feed of corn and legume, 

 making a quality of silage much richer in protein. Experiments at the Tennessee 

 Experiment Station* have shown very interesting results from this method. Mr. A. M. 

 Welch of Ionia, Mich., has given this method a complete trial, and is thoroughly con- 

 vinced that by growing cow peas with his corn he can get the best possible quality of 

 silage for dairy cows. 



According to Farmers' Bulletin No. 89, the feeding value of cow peas is equal to that 

 of the best red clover, and the hay ranks high in palatability and digestibility. As a 

 pasture, it is claimed that an acre will supply fifteen or twenty hogs for an entire fall. 

 According to Duggar, Alabama Experiment Station Bulletin No. 82, the results generally 

 favor cow peas and show them to be superior to bran. 



* University of Tennessee Year Book for 1901. 



