THE COW PEA. II 



any size or shape desired to suit the plant to north or sout'n, 

 upland or lowland. 



PREPARATION OF THE SOIL. 



Although the cow pea will, as a rule, make better 

 growth than any other plant under unfavorable soil condi- 

 tions, and even where other crops have failed, nevertheless 

 no plant or crop thrives better on rich land or more amply 

 repays liberal feeding and intelligent treatment than the cow 

 pea. Under congenial circumstances, the growth of plants of 

 this family is little short of wonderful. At the same time, it 

 must be remembered that one of the chief gains for which 

 cow peas are grown, namely, the absorption of nitrogen 

 from the air, is proportionately diminished as the conditions 

 become less favorable. The process of absorbing nitrogen 

 from the atmosphere, a property peculiar to legumes, can- 

 not fully take place under unfavorable soil conditions. In 

 other words, the land should be mellow, well drained and 

 deep. These points have been brought out so strongly and 

 repeatedly by those who have given particular attention to 

 the cultivation of cow peas, that every well informed planter 

 gives his land as deep ploughing, thorough tillage and 

 regular and liberal applications of lime as his time and 

 means permit. 



The small bacteria, the nature of which is explained 

 later (see page 34), and which live upon and with the cow 

 pea roots, and through whose action the nitrogen of the air 

 is absorbed by the plant, play an important part in the 



