652 Journal of Agriculture. [10 Nov., i( 



COW-PEAS. 



Lieut. -Col. J. R. Y. Goldstein. 



Departmental experience with cow-peas lias shown them to be a most 

 precarious crop under ordinary field conditions. They are most sensitive 

 to late frosts, and even a cold day checks them severely. As a commercial 

 crop, they are not held in high estimation, although for green manure or 

 fodder they are of great value. Under irrigatioai in the Goulburn Valley 

 excellent crops have been grown. 



Last season, varieties were supplied to Lieut. -Col. J. R. Y. Goldstein, 

 who undertook to test them at the Cheltenham Convalescent Home for 

 Men. Considering the nature of the soil and the unwonted dr}'ness of 

 the season, the results, as given in the following report, are of value: — 



It will be remembered that the winter of 1907 was so dry that the 

 subsoil was deprived of its annual wetting. Consequentlv, spring and 

 summer growth was unusually backward, and was further injured by the 

 absence of summer I'ains. The cow-peas, sown late, suffered like other 

 vegetation, and there were many gaps in the lines. But, being drought- 

 resistant, the bulk of them came through the dry season satisfactorily. 



The four varieties supplied were. New Era, Iron, Wonderful, and 

 Whip-poor-Will. The parcel of Iron contained peas of two colours, 

 though evidentlv true to name; these I separated and sowed in distinct 

 plots to test for any difference, naming them provisionally, " White Iron," 

 and "Red Iron." The result showed the dark to be a fortnight later 

 than the light pea. but the difference may have been accidental and will 

 be tested further. All the peas were sown on i8th October, and they 

 ripened seed in the following order : — 



W^hite Fron ... 15 Feb., 



New Era ... 21 Feb., 



Red Iron ... 24 Feb., 



Wonderful ... 28 Feb., 



Whip-poor-Will ... 19 Mar., 1908 ... 139 days. 



All continued to produce pods until i6th April, when they were 

 ploughed in by mistake, but previous experience in Gippsland goes to show 

 that cow-peas will produce pods until stqpped by cold. The pods were 

 gathered weeklv and careful records kept. The heaviest gatherings were 

 obtained during the third and fourth weeks in March and the first week 

 in April. 



White Iron and Red Iron are similar in growth and vield, plants about 

 20 inches high, ripening seed early, and bearing pods in succession for 

 about three months; pods about 7 inches long, containing 12 to 16 seeds 

 of medium size. Imported seeds are deep brown in colour, some being 

 cream-coloured. 



New Era, the second earliest, is a low-growing, slender bush wath 

 delicate foliage, small pods and seeds ; pods about 6 inches long, thin, 

 containing 12 to 16 seeds, brown in colour and mottled. 



Wonderful, third in order of ripening, has robust and spreading 

 growth, with .strong branches and large leaves, covering the ground quickly ; 

 plants about 14 inches high; fpods about 8 inches long, thick, containing 

 12 to 18 medium-sized peas, flattened at the ends, colour reddish brown. 



Whip-poor-Will, a late variety, is strong in grow^th, with an abundance 

 of large foliage; branches spreading and numerous; height about 18 



