LEG! MIN0U8 OiOl'S*. 



Mil 



The land can be prepared in much the same way as for maize and other 

 summer crops. Very early sowing is not to be recommended. Sowing should 

 be deferred till the soil is warm enough to germinate the seed rapidly, as 

 itherwise it is likely to become mouldy and rot in the ground. As a rule the 

 crop is sown in rows 2 feet 6 inches to 3 feet apart, and the seed from 6 to i) 

 inches apart in the rows. Such a practice enables the crop to be cultivated, 

 \vhich is an important, factor in the production of seed, or when grown in a 

 dry district. It is also economical with seed — an important consideration 

 when the crop is not a direct money crop, and every endeavour is being made 

 to reduce expense. The amount of seed required per acre for sowing in rows 

 •'! feet apart varies from 5 to 15 lb.-, according to the size of the seed of the 

 variety grown. 



When broadcasted or sown with a wheat drill using every run, considerably 

 more seed is needed. There is an advantage, especially on weedy land, in 

 broadcasting, because of the smothering effect. From 1 to 1$ bushels of seed 

 are sown per acre, and this, especially with upright-growing varieties, 



A Crop of Cowpeas. 



greatly facilitates harvesting with a scythe or mowing machine. The seed 

 drill, using the coarse runs, is undoubtedly the best machine for this pur- 

 pose, as the seed is covered to an even depth. If, after broadcasting and 

 merely harrowing in, heavy rain falls, a quantity of the seed may become 

 exposed and not germinate. Moreover, sowing wide enough to allow of 

 cultivation may be performed with the same drill, by sowing only through 

 certain drills and blocking up the rest. It must be remembered that, with 

 seed at 30s. per bushel, thick sowing means a considerable increase in the 

 cost of production. 



Cowpeas, in common with other legumes, are valuable in increasing the 

 nitrogen in the soil, thereby largely reducing the expense of buying high- 

 priced nitrogenous fertilisers for other crops. It is not infrequently found 

 that the second and successive crops succeed better than the first, owing to 

 the soil evidently being inoculated more thoroughly with the bacteria that 

 cr.rry out the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. Dressings of about 1 cwt. 

 superphosphate per acre will in most cases considerably increase the yield. 



