28 



•cowjK'ns to 1><^ I'c^sistiiiM hot It to nematode^ attacks and 

 to cowjuM wilt, the latter beiiij;- a fuiij^us disease dilTer- 

 ent fnnn the one that is most d("stnietive at Auburn. 



The remedy for all these troubles consists in practic- 

 in.i:: such a roitation as will keep susceptible plants off 

 ■of the infest(Ml or infected fields for at least a few years. 



In brief, the eowpea as a fora<;e plant is superior to 

 the velvet bean in i)alatabilitv and ease of curing and 

 only inferior in hardiness or resistance towards the at- 

 tacks of certain insects and fungont^ diseases. 



Coicpcas versus beggar iveed and soja beans as forage. 



At Auburn the yield of eowpea hay has greatly exceed- 

 ed that of beggar weed hay and has been superior in 

 quality. The advantages in favor of beggar weed are its 

 greater ease of curing, resulting from its more erect 

 growth, and its practical or complete exemption from ne- 

 matode injury. Beggar weed also seems resistant to the 

 fungus root rot. 



Compared with soja or soy beans, cowpeas at Auburn 

 have averaged a heavier yield of hay and have been sur- 

 passed only in the gi'eater ease with which the soy bean, 

 on account of its erect growth, can be harvested. The 

 eowpea has been able to make a fair growth on land 

 too poor for soy beans. 



Cowpeas in VxVrious Mixtures for Hay. 



The leaflets easily drop from the vines in curing unless 

 special care is exercised. This loss can be avoided and 

 ^he curing process facilitated by growing the pea^nnes 

 in combiTiatioTi with some grass that cures readily and 

 Avhich serves with its blades and fine stems to tie the 

 Avhole mass together so that the leaflets of the legume 

 are not lost. For this purpose crabgrass is one of tho 

 best, and the only disadvantage is that as a volunteer 



