226 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The plant always ripens its seed on our place. We have tried other legumes, and have 

 dropped all but vetches, peanuts, alfalfa, crimson, June and alsike clovers, field peas 

 and cow peas." 



The following letter from a St. Joseph county farmer gives a valuable experience with 

 cow peas: 



"The growing of cow peas is no longer an experiment with us in southern Michigan. 

 1 have grown them for live years, from 10 to 70 acres each year, average about 30 acres. 

 Seeding should be done about first week in June, never before the ground is thoroughly 

 warm, so as to germinate quickly. Sow with any drill that will sow beans, with all 

 the tubes open, about one bushel per acre. They soon cover the ground and keep all 

 weeds down, if plowed, say the fore part of May, with a good cultivating before sowing. 

 The effect upon the ground is most marked, leaving it very mellow and lively, so to 

 speak. Some sow in rows as beans when seed and peas is an object. Have had good 

 catch of clover sown on wheat stubble plowed and sown in August. Wheat was sown 

 after cow peas; also corn does well after peas. When cut for hay, cure same as clover 

 about first week in August; if threshed, cut just before frost, it then makes about as 

 good feed, and hay will keep better. There is nothing better than this hay and shredded 

 stalks for milch cows, thus saving bran. Hogs also grow remarkably well by turning 

 them on in August, and they live there until snow comes if they have some kind of 

 green feed. It also makes good pasture for any stock, *if not turned on too green. — 

 Geo. Engle, Centreville, Mich." 



Below is a letter from Mr. R. M. Kellogg, Three Rivers, Mich., giving his experience 

 with cow peas: 



"In the spring of 1896 I sowed 35 acres of Mammoth Clay cow peas, using one and a 

 half bushels to the acre, sown broadcast with an ordinary grain drill. The soil had 

 been much run and was especially destitute of humus. The season was wet and they 

 made a very large growth, completely shading the ground and smothering the weeds. 



"The ground was literally filled with nodes and roots after the first of August, and 

 very little of them before that time. A part were plowed under before frost struck 

 them and a part late in October, while some were left until spring. In the following 

 crop, as well as in texture of soil, I could see a marked difference in favor of those 

 which laid on the top of the ground all winter. The soil was made mellow and the sur- 

 face crust very much less firm and brittle. 



"The next summer I used the Mammoth Black and a dwarf variety. The season 

 proved very dry and little growth was secured. The dwarf shaded the ground very little 

 and weeds took possession of the ground. 



"The next year 40 acres of Whip-poor-will were sown which, although the season was 

 dry, made a fair growth and ripened considerable seed, although it hardly paid to 

 gather it. 



"The results of my experience convince me that the cow pea is to be an important 

 factor in bringing up our land, so that we may again use the clovers. What we must 

 have is humus and mineral elements, so that the clover shall secure a rootage before 

 the drought sets in. 



"When sowing the peas, in each case I drilled in with the seed 300 pounds of fine 

 ground bone and spread about 25 bushels of wood ashes to the acre, which I am sure 

 had a marked effect on the growth of the plants. 



"I am satisfied that all dwarf varieties should be discarded and that no attempt 

 should be made to grow the seed in Michigan. Use only the Mammoth Clay and Wonder 

 pea and sow about the first of June, one and a half bushels to the acre, using the 

 mineral fertilizers and leaving the vines on the ground unmolested until the following 

 spring, when they will be decayed enough to break up and be mixed with the soil by 

 plowing and harrowing." 



