196 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



very much better for the land to have it covered during the winter 

 with growing clover. 



When the second crop does not mature in time ( September 15) ta 

 allow crimson clover to be sown, the best way to utilize the peas is ta 

 pasture with hogs. The hogs will do very well on this feed. 



Farther north, where the growing of the cow-pea is more problem- 

 atical, it is suggested that the Whippoorwill variety be used, and that 

 they be sown in the manner described as early in the spring as danger 

 from frost will permit. 



If a later maturity and slightly larger variety than the Whippoor- 

 will is desired, select the Clay. For a very large, late maturity variety, 

 which will be very valuable as green manure for the southern section 

 of Missouri, select the Unknown or Wonderful. 



In many sections it will be found profitable to broadcast cow-peas 

 between the rows of corn just before the last cultivation of the corn. 

 If the season will allow them to mature seed, pasture with hogs after 

 the corn has been removed, and turn the vines under for manure. 



A good practice will be to sow peas on wheat stubble, provided 

 the wheat can be removed and the land prepared by July 10. It 

 should either be plowed or thoroughly cultivated with the disc or spad- 

 ing harrow before sowing the peas. 



The cured vines and pods make excellent hay. For this purpose 

 they should be cut when most of the pods have formed and the first 

 pods are beginning to ripen. When delay beyond this stage of de- 

 velopment a loss of leaves and peas by shattering will occur. 



TIME TO PLOW UNDER. 



The mistake is often made of plowing these crops under before 

 they are mature. Recent experiments with the common red clover,, 

 show that the largest amount of nitrogen will be obtained by allowing 

 it to pass out of blossom. When plowed under at the beginning of 

 blossom, but little more than one-third as much nitrogen was secured 

 as when allowed to mature. In the case of crimson clover the amount 

 of nitrogen yielded per acre, by the entire plant, including the roots 

 and stubble, ranged from 103 pounds when the plants were from 5 to 

 7 inches high — April 24 — to 212 pounds when the plants were fully 

 matured. May 31. The fertilizing value of the crop at the different 

 stages of growth were: April 24, plants 5 to 7 inches high, value 

 $21.94; May 12, plants 12 to 14 inches high, value $34.64; May 24,. 

 plants in bloom, value $37.06 ; May 31, plants fully mature, value 

 $43.96. 



