480 ANNHAT. REPOR''J' OF THE Off. Doc. 



a number of varieties, as, for example, the name of Crowder is ap- 

 plied to any variety in which the seeds are closely packed together or 

 crowded. The further fact that the season and climate exert such an 

 influence upon the plant as to make a variety in one place very dif- 

 ferent in its character than in another, makes it difficult to give posi- 

 tive advice as to the selection of varieties for specific purposes. The 

 different varieties range in form from a bush a foot or so high, with- 

 out runners, to those possessing vining or trailing habits, the vines 

 reaching a length of from ten to twenty feet long, according to soil 

 and season. The pods also range from four to eighteen inches in 

 length, giving seed of every possible shape and form. The period of 

 mature growth also varies, as do the habits of growth. The different 

 varieties ranging in their time of maturity from two to six months, 

 though the habit of growth does bear some relation as to the time 

 required; the smaller the plant and the more nearly it approaches 

 the bush form the shorter the time required for maturity, while 

 the more rapid the growth and the larger and longer the vines the 

 longer the time required. In order to select the proper variety 

 for the various purposes, the object of its growth should be clearly 

 understood. Where short, quick growth and maturity are required 

 then, particularly in the north, the bush variety should be selected; 

 whereas, if the purpose is for forage, and the period of growth can 

 be extended, then the vining varieties are likely to be more useful. 



In cases where they are grown primarily for green manures, then 

 the time during which they grow should determine the variety to 

 select. It is more difficult to select varieties for the north than 

 for the south, as the plant has not been so carefully studied in this 

 section. Nevertheless, the Early Black, Whippoorwill, Wonderful 

 and Clay varieties have proved excellent for the various purposes. 

 The Early Black, where the seed crop is desired, as it grows and 

 matures quickly, whereas the others are better adapted for forage 

 and green manure, as the longer they grow the larger the crop of 

 succulent forage in one case, and of total crop in the other, except 

 in the case of green manures, when only two or three months can 

 be given to the growth of the crop. 



Method and Time of Sowing. 



The time of seeding the cow pea will depend upon the character 

 of the weather; they should not be seeded in spring until danger of 

 frost is past and the soil is thoroughly warm. In cold, backward 

 springs many failures have been recorded, because of too 

 early seeding; the seed are liable to rot in cold weather, 

 and if germination takes place the plant is retarded in 

 growth in cool weather and the crop is unsatisfactory even if 



