COTTON 117 



than you have ever done before. Let the one- 

 horse plow alone. It is useless in these old fields. 

 A larger, heavier one is needed and two horses or 

 mules will be required for the work. If you are 

 able to do this during earlier winter the clay sub- 

 soil turned up will do no harm. Freezing and 

 thawing, air and rain, will get things ready for the 

 crop and no harm will be done. 



Have you ever done this work ? Have you ever 

 tried it on your old fields ? It may surprise you. 

 It has surprised us. 



THE COWPEA AS AN ALLY IN SOIL RESTORA- 

 TION 



You are now ready for the spring to come. Of 

 course you will use the cowpea. It will do the 

 work if any plant in all the world can do it. It will 

 send its roots down deep into the subsoil below; it 

 will put nitrogen into the land, humus will be added; 

 the texture will be improved; the soil will come to 

 life. You may get only a small growth of cowpeas 

 the first year. It will depend on how badly the 

 soil is deteriorated; on how much it is worn out. 

 You can pasture the cowpeas or make them into 

 hay, or leave them to mature and die. Suit your- 

 self in this respect. 



And now winter comes on again. Go into 

 another field. Clean it up in the same way as you 

 have done the one we have just been consider- 

 ing. And last year's section you must not forget 

 it. In winter plow it again and put it to peas a 

 second time and then a third time. That makes 

 the field. It lives! it is restored to life. Though 

 weak and tender, still it will go to work bravely and 

 willingly. 



