165 



Kelative Fertilizing Values of the Cowpea and 



Velvet Bean. 



When tested on a number of crops, each grown im- 

 mediately after the legumes, the percentage increase as 

 compared with corresponding plots that had borne no 

 legume was 128 per cent, from pea vines, and also 128 

 per cent, from velvet bean vines. Additional weight is 

 given to these figures since they represent the average 

 of six tests with each plant. Continuing the inquiry as 

 to their comparative value, we find that the second crop 

 after cowpea vines showed an increase of 37 per cent, 

 and the second crop after velvet bean vines an increase 

 of 48 per cent. This is the average result of two com- 

 parable tests with each plant. 



Comparing these two plants mth reference to the 

 fertilizing effect of the stubble on the first crop we find 

 as the average of three tests an increase that is 

 practically the same for the tw^o plants. 



Combining the results for the vines of each legume as 

 shown in the first and second succeeding crops with the 

 immediate results from the stubble of each we must 

 conclude that at Auburn the fertilizing values of the 

 cowpea and velvet bean are practically equal. This 

 is true for an acre of each. In the stubble plots the 

 average yield of velvet bean hay has been the greater, 

 that is 4,781 pounds per acre of velvet bean hay against 

 3,278 pounds of cowpea hay, so that apparently pound 

 for pound the cured tops of cowpeas have been some- 

 what more effective than the vines of velvet beans. 

 This is in practical accord with the results of chemical 

 analyses made at this station by Dr. Anderson, who 

 analyzed peavine hay and velvet bean hay from 

 plots w^here the stubble was used as fertilizer. 

 He found 2 . 29 per cent, nitrogen in velvet bean 



