560 



THE FARMERS HANDBOOK. 



COWPEAS.* 



The cowpea is a summer-growing annual, more closely related to the bean 

 than to the pea. It is not a true climber, having no tendrils, but the long 

 vines twine around any adjacent support and cling to it. Every year this 

 plant plays a more important part in farming economy, and as a summer 

 green manure it can hardly be excelled. It is grown as a forage crop, and 

 either fed off, soiled, or mixed with other material and converted into silage. 

 Though difficult to harvest and handle, yet it makes an excellent hay. 

 The seed commands a constant and satisfactory price on the market. 



Black Cowpeas ; yield, 14 tons 8 cwt. per acre. 



Cowpeas are very tender, and are killed by even a light frost at any stage 

 of their growth. During the summer and autumn they continue to grow 

 and produce green pods (except in the case of very early varieties) until 

 checked by frost or drought. 



The plant thrives best under warm and moist conditions, and, while it 

 readily adapts itself to dry weather, the weather must be warm or the plant 

 will not develop. It grows well on the North and South Coast, and in 

 favoured portions or under irrigation in the west. 



Although sensitive to wet soil, cowpeas will grow on poorer soil or on a 

 more acid soil than soybeans, but where the climate is suitable velvet beans 

 will make better growth on poor soil than even cowpeas. 



* The matter under this heading, together with that under the heading Soybeans, was 

 revised from previous matter by Mr. H. Wenholz, B.Sc. (Agi.), Inspector of Agriculture. 



