64 



The Bulletijst. 



ments and observations indicate that where nitrogen is supplied in 

 the fertilizer or is contained in too great abundance in the soil, the 

 cowpea may become lazy and is not as active in extracting nitrogen 

 from the air as when it is necessary for it to obtain it from this 

 source for its growth. On poor soils, where the plants start slowly 

 and are sickly in appearance, it is profitable to add a small amount 

 of nitrogen in the fertilizer,. or as a side dressing, to produce growth 

 to the point where the root development will enable the peas to get 

 the nitrogen they need from atmospheric sources. 



Table XX— TEST OF DIFFERENT QUANTITIES OF SEED USED PER 



ACRE (NEW ERA). 



♦Peas rotted in field as a result of continued rains. 



On soils needing lime, because they are deficient in it, or where 

 they need lime to correct sourness, or acidity, it should be applied. 



The two important fertilizer constituents for the cowpea are phos- 

 phoric acid and potash, and it pays to supply these liberalh\ either 

 combined or singly, according to the needs of the soil, as the plant 

 cannot make a satisfactory erowth and add to the fertility of the 

 soil without them. A ton of pea-vine hay, in round numbers, re- 

 moves from the soil 47 pounds nitrogen, 10 pounds phosphoric acid, 

 and 29 pounds potash, and 1 bushel of })eas with the hulls going 

 with them (85 pounds) removes 2.3 pounds nitrogen, .6 pound phos- 

 phoric acid, and 1.4 pounds potash. At least sufiicicnt phosphoric 

 acid and potash should be sup])lied in the fertilizer to return what 

 is removed in the crop, and considerably more if it is expected to 

 keep up the productiveness of the land by supplying the waste from 

 washing and leaching. Our experiments already reported on the 

 red-clay loam of the Iredell Test Farm show that this soil does not 

 need potash for pea production. The analysis of the soil shows it to 

 be comparatively hi<:h in potash. Our analyses of red (cecil) clay 



