144 FARM CROPS 



pea is to the South. On the poorest, sandy land, 

 with 200 or 300 pounds of fertilizer, a crop of cow- 

 peas can be made that will simply astonish a novice. 

 Not only an abundance of choicest grain can be 

 made from them, but the hay one acre will yield 

 will three times pay the cost of the crop. The hay, 

 if properly cured, is not just common rough feed, 

 but in nutrition is unsurpassed. Horses, mules, cattle, 

 sheep and goats will keep fat on the hay alone. 



The valuable effects of a pea crop can be seen 

 in the land for several years. Land that is hard 

 and inclined to run together, if treated with a crop 

 of peas, will for several years after be open, easy 

 to pulverize, and much more productive. Many 

 farmers who have tried cowpeas and condemned 

 them made the mistake of planting them too early ; 

 peas should be planted when the weather becomes 

 warm. The land should be prepared and fertilized 

 as for corn. Three of the best standard varieties 

 are the Clay, a variety that will not rot, if left 

 after ripening, and a heavy yielder; the Carson, 

 a tough shuck pea that will not shell out readily 

 when vines are cut, a heavy yielder and very hardy, 

 the best for hay of any variety ; and the old reliable 

 Whippoorwill, which is a good variety where grain 

 is most desired ; and will bear for several successive 

 weeks if the ripe ones are picked off. Other va- 

 rieties and all good ones are the Iron, Blackeye, 

 Wonderful and Taylor. 



Because the cowpea is a native of the South some 

 Northern farmers think they cannot grow it. This 

 is a mistake. Indian corn is also a native of the 

 South, but even the Indians by persistent selection 

 acclimated it in Canada. The cowpea is a good 

 soil enricher, and it will grow under more adverse 



