258 FORAGE CHOPS 



the seed is expensive, it pays even for forage to 

 use the smaller quantity and cultivate, rather than 

 to broadcast the larger quantity. 



Seed should be covered one to two inches deep, 

 and on very light soils a little deeper. The season, 

 to some extent, governs the depth; in a dry sea- 

 son, the deeper the seed the better. The difficulty 

 in too late summer broadcast seeding is that 

 crab-grass or other growth is likely to choke out 

 the plants. 



Value of the cowpea crop 



Perhaps there is no other annual leguminous for- 

 age crop that is so generally useful as the cowpea. 

 In the first place, it grows in hot weather, when it is 

 desirable to have the ground covered; (2) its long 

 tap-root penetrates the subsoil, loosening it and 

 making it more porous; (3) the absorption and 

 assimilation of the free nitrogen makes it of great 

 service; (4) it provides good forage; (5) it may 

 be used as a cover-crop; (6) the roots and stubble 

 are left as additions to the soil, always causing 

 considerable improvement. 



Manures and fertilizers 



While the cowpea is well adapted to light soils, 

 nevertheless, if the best results are to be had, the 

 soil must be well supplied with phosphoric acid 



