810 AgricMltural Gazette of N.S.JV. [Oct. % 1908. 



The seed-pols ijui-v in Irngtli from 1 tn I <; inches. These, with the 

 seeds, are of all sorts, shapes, and colours. Ivich sort varies in time of 

 maturing, liabiL of growtli, ripening, and other features. It is best to select 

 tested varieties for the main crops and to conduct tests with new sorts on a 

 small scale. 



Tlic most satisfactory vai'iety subjected to a series of trials here for the 

 past six years is Poona, an u|)right, bushy" jjant, of vigorous and dense 

 growth. This was originally imported by the late Mr. Farrer, from tlie De- 

 partment of Agi-iculture of India. We have had a yield as high as 10 tons 

 to the acre from it. Cowpeas revel in heat and sunlight, and will thi'ive on 

 a wide range of soils; generally thcyclo l)est on light soils. The light sandy 

 loams at this College have always atibrded good returns fi'om this plant. The 

 only soil in which it will not I'espond is that which is constantly wet. In 

 all cases the soil should be deep, well drained and mellow. 



On impoverished soils the crop is one of the safest and most certain reno- 

 vators. Being a hot climate plant it is necessarily very susceptible to frost, 

 and planting should not commence until frosty weather has passed. November 

 is usually the month to sow the main crop, although successful crops have 

 often been secured from October sowings. Fresh sowings may be continued 

 until February. The soil must be well cultivated and brought into a hue 

 condition of tilth. Where manure is recpui-ed, the best stimulant to rich 

 wrowth can be secured from an application of fertilisers affording phosphoric 

 acid and potash. This is supplied by the following : — 



.Superphosphate ... l>00 lb. Muriate of potash ... 100 1b. 



per acre spread broadcast. In some soils^ — clay loams— it is found essential 

 to release plant-food by dressings of lime at the rate of ^ to 1 ton })er acre. 



The best practice is to sow the cowpeas in drills 2 ft. 6 in. a])art, the seed 

 6 to (S inches from each other, and covering with soil about 2 inches 



The use of a maize drill fitted with a plate having jl-inch holes facilitates 

 sowing. 



Cowpeas gei-minate quickly on moist, well prepared soils. The whole cidp 

 grows lapidlv and evenly. (Shallow cultivation should be followed once a 

 month with scufiiei' or cultivator until the plant is developed. 



Of late years the practice of sowing climbing vai-ieties of cowp(>as with 

 maize or sorghum has been adopted with very good returns. The yield 

 per acre, in many instanct^s, has been (h)ubled. For conservation as silage 

 this class of crop is becoming increasingly popular, especially the cond)ination 

 of maize with cowpeas, seeing the increase of prot<Mn by the latter assists to 

 balance the food constituents. 



In using the crops for hay the best time to cut is when the first pods begin 

 to ripen. Like lied clover it is liable to beat if carted and stacked too early. 



The cut hay should be left exposed to the sun foi- a few lioui's, and then 

 j)ut into cocks foi- thirty-six to forty -eight hours. 



Care should be observed in drying not to allow the leaves to become liiittle. 



If the hay be too moist when stacking it is bkely to become mouldy. It 

 should be carefully stacked and pi-otected from the weather. 



