FORAGE CROPS 111 



Cow-peas. — The cow-pea is a leguminous, viny plant, very 

 much used for hay in those states bordering on the Ohio River 

 and in all the southern states. The use of the seed has al- 

 ready been mentioned. The cow-pea is an Old World plant, 

 coming from Asia. It is more like a bean than a pea, for it 

 has long pods like bean pods and the seeds of most varieties 

 look like the beans which we plant in gardens. The blossoms 

 are beautiful, resembling pea blossoms. The cow-pea grows 

 well on sandy and loam soils. The land should be prepared 

 as for corn. The seed is not planted until the weather has 

 become warm, usually after corn-planting. The seed may be 

 sown in drills, twenty-four inches or more apart, with the 

 plants standing about three or four inches apart in the rows. 

 Or, the seed may be sown broadcast with the drill or by hand. 

 When sown in drills a half bushel of seed per acre is neces- 

 sary; when sown broadcast about twice as much seed is 

 used. If sown in drills the plants should be cultivated like 

 corn. They should not be cultivated when wet with dew, for 

 the leaves will be injured. Cow-peas may be cut for hay, or 

 pastured, or cut green for soiling. When cut for hay the 

 vines should be thrown into piles as soon as they are wilted, so 

 as to save the leaves. When some of the pods have begun to 

 ripen it is time to cut for hay. Cow-peas also make excellent 

 material to turn under for enriching the land. 



Soy-beans. — The soy-bean is a native of Japan. It will 

 grow well farther north than the cow-pea. It is an upright 

 growing plant with small, purplish or whitish blossoms, and 

 short hairy pods containing two, three, or four seeds. The 

 soy-bean is grown mostly for seed, but is also useful for hay, 

 especially for sheep. The time, method, and rate of sowing 

 are the same as for cow-peas. Care should be taken in culti- 



