XIV 



LEGUMES FOR SEED 



I. COWPEAS 



321. Time of Harvesting. When picked by hand for seed, 

 the crop may be harvested when the pods and seeds have become 

 thoroughly mature. If vines are harvested primarily for the 

 seed, cutting before thoroughly dry will prevent loss of seed, 

 and in some cases loss from mildew on pods, which not infre- 

 quently occurs when left to ripen for hand picking. 



The Arkansas Station has shown that success in curing cow- 

 pea hay depends largely on the stage of maturity. Varieties 

 representing five seasons of growth were planted June 9, and 

 subsequently cut at four stages of maturity as follows : ( i ) 

 when first pods had formed; (2) first pods ripe; (3) half the 

 pods ripe ; (4) all the pods ripe. The following table shows 

 the varieties used and their season of maturity: 



Influence of Stage of Maturity on the Curing of Cowpea Hay 



Mowing when the first pods were forming resulted in the 

 very early, early, and medium varieties curing into indifferent, 



257 



