2 4 THE COW PEA. 



is a most useful element for the cow pea, but phosphoric 

 acid is also more or less needed. The one great object 03 

 fertilizing is to fully supply the mineral needs of the plant 

 guided by the well established principle that when these are 

 supplied in abundance there is a corresponding gain in 

 nitrogen. 



A little practical experimenting soon indicates about 

 how much potash and phosphoric acid to use. Applications 

 of different quantities of these two ingredients on several 

 parts of a field afford opportunities for comparison. Sandy 

 soils are usually deficient in potash; clays, in phosphoric acid, 

 to applications of which they usually quickly respond. On 

 sandy soils the cow pea can make good use of 500 to 600 

 pounds of kainit and 300 to 350 pounds of acid phosphate 

 per acre. If muriate of potash be used in place of kainit, 

 135 to 150 pounds will answer. On clay soils less potash 

 and more phosphoric acid may be used. There need be no 

 fear that the potash and phosphoric acid above the actual 

 needs of the crop will be lost. It is far wiser to run the risk 

 of over rather than under supply, inasmuch as most of the 

 surplus will be stored up and available for subsequent crops. 



PLANTING. 



Cow peas may be planted any time in the spring when 

 one soil is warm enough for planting beans, and thereafter, 

 until within two months of the time when fall frosts are 

 expected. Being of tropical origin, the plant develops best 

 in warm weather, and nothing is gained by planting too 



