CHAPTER XX 

 MISCELLANEOUS LEGUMES 



484. Other Useful Legumes. In addition to the clovers 

 and alfalfa, there are other legumes which are grown in a 

 more or less hmited way for forage or for their seeds, or 

 both. Among the plants which are grown under field condi- 

 tions for both seed and forage are the cowpea, soy bean, field 

 pea, and peanut, while the field bean is grown for the seeds 

 alone. In districts where canning factories are located, the 

 common garden pea is grown in large fields. Among the 

 plants grown for forage or green manure are sweet clover, 

 bur clover, Japan clover, the vetches, and the velvet bean. 



Of these legumes, some are fully as important in dis- 

 tricts where they are grown as are alfalfa and red clover in 

 the regions to which they are adapted, and very largely take 

 the place of those standard forage plants. Thus in the 

 South, the cowpea is the most important forage plant and 

 soil renovator. In some sections of the North a similar 

 place is held by the field pea. Japan clover largely takes 

 the place of white clover in southern pastures, while in 

 Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, the velvet bean is a most im- 

 portant forage and green manure plant. 



Still other less important leguminous plants are grown 

 in a limited way in some portions of the country, but they 

 are not of enough importance to require extended discussion. 

 Among these plants may be mentioned sainfoin, Egyptian clo- 

 ver, beggarweed, trefoil, lupines, and horse bean. 



THE COWPEA 



485. Origin and Description. The cowpea, Vi^na sinensis, 

 is a native of China, where it has been cultivated for many 



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