<36 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 



resistance to disease was demonstrated by experiments made by the 

 Department of Agriculture in 1900-2 on the farm of Mr. T. S. 

 Williams, Monetta, S. C, where the seed now distributed was grown. 

 It was tested on land infested with both wilt and root- knot in com- 

 parison with over forty other varieties, all of which were wholly or 

 partially destroyed by disease, while the Iron variety remained healthy . 

 A photograph of this field is shown in Plate III, fig. 1. The Speckled 

 cowpea on the right was treated in every respect like the Iron, but 

 was unable to withstand the disease. In all our trials in South Caro- 

 lina the Iron cowpea has remained free from nematode attacks, but at 

 the Florida Experiment Station it was somewhat affected. It should 

 be understood that under varying conditions different results may be 

 expected, and this variety may not everywhere prove as resistant as 

 in South Carolina. One object of this distribution of the Iron cowpea 

 is to determine its resistance to disease under varying climatic and soil 

 conditions and its suitability for different sections. 



CHARACTERS OF THE IRON COWPEA. 



The Iron cowpea is of the Clay type. The seeds are small and hard; 

 color buff, of varying shades. The plant is vigorous, erect, or half- 

 trailing; the leaves dark green, with a distinctive bluish luster; time 

 of maturing, medium to late. It blooms and bears continuously 

 through the season, but the pods do not shell out in the field as freely 

 as other sorts. An especially noteworthy feature is that it holds its 

 leaves late in the season, remaining green after other late kinds are 

 dead. It resists the attacks of the wilt fungus and nematode worm, 

 withstands drought well, and the hard seeds are very free from weevil 

 attacks. The seeds will live through the winter in the ground and 

 come up in the spring more freely than any other variety tested. It 

 is reported to be of fair qualit}' as a table pea. 



The Iron cowpea will be most valuable for soil improvement and 

 forage where other kinds fail. On healthy soils it is doubtful whether 

 it will replace existing standard varieties, as it is no more productive 

 than many others. Its long bearing season is a fault, making harvest- 

 ing more difficult. 



DIRECTIONS FOR PLANTING. 



In order to test the disease-resistant qualities of this cowpea it 

 should be planted on land where the ordinary varieties do not grow 

 well, if any such is available. For the purpose of comparison, a few 

 rows of another variety should be planted beside it. The methods of 

 planting and cultivation should be the same as for the common varie- 

 ties. To secure a good crop of seed, plant from May 20 to July 10, 

 according to the latitude, in drills 8 to 4 feet apart, at the rate of 2 

 pecks per acre. 



