260 ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



growth after the hot weather of summer sets in. In the experiments 

 conducted in this State, they have been sown broadcast, though many 

 recommend s(>eding in drills and cultivating as for corn. While 

 this may be advisable on land that is very weedy, it has been our 

 experience that the extra yield obtained from cultivation did not 

 counterbalance the extra cost. They may be seeded, therefore, 

 either broadcast or in drills. If broadcast, one and one-half bushels 

 of seed should be used and well covered. If in drills, one bushel 

 will fee sufficient. The saving in Feed is quite an item at the pres- 

 ent time, owing to its high price. The yield will vary widely depend- 

 ing upon both the season and the period of time they are allowed to 

 grow. If allowed to grow throughout the entire summer, yields as 

 high sixteen tons may be obtained. If cut when they reach a good 

 condition for soiling, from eight to tw'elve tons may be obtained. 

 The cow pea, like alfalfa, is very rich in nitrogeneous substance, 

 and, therefore, is more valuable pound for pound of dry matter 

 than the corn or millets in balancing rations for dairy cows. The 

 nutritive ratio is about 1:4, thus requirng a very considerable addi- 

 tion of carbohydrates to balance. A yield of ten tons of green forage 

 per acre will contain as much protein as about two tons of wheat 

 bran. Cow peas may be successfully made into hay, though requir- 

 ing extra care in the handling, 



Soja Beans . — This crop is quite similar to cow peas in its charac- 

 teristics and habits of growth, and the recommendations as to seed, 

 seeding and cultivation will apply equally v/ell here. They are less 

 palatable than the cow pea, owing to the hardness of the stem, which, 

 as the plant grows older, becomes ver}^ woody. It also requires a 

 little longer time to reach the right stage of maturity for use. Where 

 cow peas can be successfully grown they possess all the advantages 

 that w'ould be obtained by the soja bean, 



Coio Peas and Kaffir Corn. — An interesting experiment was con- 

 ducted the past year, using a combination of cow peas and Kaffir 

 corn, the idea being that the Kaffir corn, being a strong, upright 

 grower, would serve to hold up the cow peas, besides securing a 

 jarger yield because of the two varieties of plants. The experiment 

 v/as successful in so far as this particular purpose was concerned, 

 though owing to the very dry season the yield was not as great aj 

 could be expected under average conditions. This combination is 

 also very palatable, and because of <he different character of the two 

 plants, the composition of the dry matter is such as to furnish prac- 

 tically a balanced ration, though, as suggested in reference to other 

 forage crops of a watery character, it will not be altogether a de- 

 sirable practice to use them exclusively. When these are seeded to- 

 gether, one bushel of cow peas and twelve pounds of Kaffir corn 

 would be sufficient. This field is a fruitful one for the experimenter. 



