EXERCISE 36 

 A STUDY OF COWPEAS* 



Object. To study the purity, condition, and worth of 

 cowpea seed. 



Explanation. Cowpeas make nutritious feed for live 

 stock, but the value of the seed is greater for planting 

 than for feed. The seed is seldom used for feed unless it 

 is badly cracked or broken. Cowpeas are very easily broken 

 by threshing, and commercial samples usually contain 

 broken seed. The worth of cowpea seed depends largely 

 upon its purity and condition. 



Equipment. 1. Two five to six pound samples repre- 

 senting different types of cowpeas. 



2. A weight-per-bushel tester. 



3. A balance weighing to one half of one gram. 



4. Type samples of cowpea seed. 



Directions. Weigh out twenty grams of cowpeas from 

 one of the samples and make a detailed study of it. Use 

 the outline form " A Study of Cowpeas " to record the 

 results of the examination. Compare the sample under 

 observation with named type samples for identification. 

 Record the name in the column of that sample number for 

 classification. 



* If soy beans are more commonly grown in your community 

 than cowpeas, substitute soy beans for cowpeas in this exercise. 



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