GRASS AND HAY 97 



Larger hay yields have frequently been secured by planting in rows 

 24 to 36 inches apart and giving two or three cultivations, the seed 

 required in this way being from two to three pecks per acre. The 

 increased yield of hay due to cultivation is not sufficient to cover 

 the increased cost, especially as rather thick broadcast seeding is 

 equally as effective in destroying weeds as cultivation in rows. The 

 practice of broadcasting on small grain stubble and plowing under 

 the seed is still common ; also that of putting in the seed on grain, 

 stubble with a disk drill without plowing. Both of these practices 

 are rapidly being replaced by good preparation of the soil before 

 seeding. 



As nearly as average conditions will permit cowpeas for hay 

 should be planted so that they will be at the proper stage for hay 

 making in the latter part of August, in September, or early in. 

 October, as the rainfall is likely to be small during that time. With 

 four to six days of dry, sunny weather, cowpeas can be cured into 

 hay of excellent quality if they are at the proper stage of maturity 

 when cut. 



The proper time to cut cowpeas for hay is when most of the 

 pods are full grown and a considerable number of them are ripe. 

 At this stage none of the best hay varieties have dropped their 

 leaves. Of the large list of cowpea varieties, those with an upright 

 habit of growth which seed fairly well and mature quite uniformly 

 should be chosen for hay. The varieties more commonly used are 

 Whippoorwill, Unknown, New Era, and Iron. These hold their 

 leaves well and stand up much better than most of the other varie- 

 ties. Such varieties as Black, Red Ripper, and Clay are not desir- 

 able for the production of hay, as they run to vine badly and are 

 consequently very hard to cure and handle. The readiness with 

 which the hay can be cured depends largely upon the maturity of 

 the vine and the condition of the weather ; hence the advisability of 

 having the harvesting come when the season is most likely to be dry. 



An ordinary mower is the most practical machine for cutting 

 cowpeas for hay, and if an erect variety is grown the entire plant 

 can readily be saved. The mowing should begin in the morning, 

 as soon as the dew is off, and may be continued all day if desired, 

 though some advocate cutting only till noon. The vines should be 

 left in the swath until well wilted on top, but not till the leaves are 

 dry and brittle. They should then be raked into windrows; this 

 may be the same day or the day after mowing. They should be 

 left in the windrows one or two days and then put into small cocks 

 of one or two forkfuls. The cocks should be left till the vines are 

 well cured, from two to five or six days, depending on the condi- 

 tions which have prevailed during the curing period. A good rule 

 to follow is that peas are ready for stacking or putting into the barn 

 when it is not possible to wring moisture out of the stems by twist- 

 ing a handful with considerable force. 



Cowpeas in Mixtures. While cowpeas can be satisfactorily 

 grown alone for hay, it is a much better practice as a rule to grow 

 them in mixtures. The most widely used crop for this purpose is 



