IMPORTANCE OF COWPEAS 369 



North, but are of little importance farther south where the 

 stronger-growing, later varieties can be grown. Other more or 

 less prominent varieties are the Black, Blackeye, Brabham, 

 Groit, Unknown, Red Ripper, and the various Crowders, 

 the latter name being given on account of the crowded 

 appearance of the peas in the pod. 



487. Importance. The cowpea is almost as great a 

 factor in the agriculture of the South as clover is in that of 

 the North or alfalfa in the West. As it grows only in warm 

 weather and needs a rather long season to develop, it is 

 confined largely to the Southern states, though a few early 

 varieties are grown as far north as Michigan. The general 

 culture of the plant does not extend north of Kansas, Ken- 

 tucky or Maryland. No definite estimate of the acreage 

 devoted to this crop can be made, but in recent years it has 

 rapidly increased all over the South. It is used in a variety 

 of ways, as a hay or seed crop, as a pasture crop, as a gatherer 

 of nitrogen, and as a green manure crop to add both humus 

 and nitrogen. It is sown alone or in combination with other 

 crops, a common practice being to sow it with corn at the 

 last cultivation, either in the rows or between them. 



488. Soils and Fertilizers. Cowpeas will grow on almost 

 any soil, though naturally they grow better on a fertile 

 loam than elsewhere. Some varieties, like the Black, are 

 particularly adapted to sandy land. Others do better on 

 the heavier clays and clay loams. As the cowpea is a nitro- 

 gen gatherer, this element need not be supplied. A con- 

 siderable quantity of food material is stored in the large 

 seed, and the young plant is able to develop a vigorous root 

 system before this is exhausted, which fact explains why the 

 cowpea thrives on land that is very low in fertility. Rich land 

 tends to produce vines at the expense of seed production. 

 A fair supply of potash and phosphorus is necessary for the 

 best growth of the crop, and on poor soils greatly increased 

 yields are obtained when these elements are supplied. 



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