THE COW PEA. 7 



which become permanent through cultivation and selection. 

 The varieties which are actually and permanently distinct 

 are comparatively few in number, although different names 

 are given to various forms in different parts of the country. 

 The character of the plant and its seed is modified by various 

 conditions cultivation, nature of soil, length of growing 

 season, time of planting, and, perhaps also, cross-fertiliza- 

 tion. Local names are sometimes given a variety which 

 has been grown for a length of time in a certain neighbor- 

 hood, but the same sort may be known by an entirely 

 different name in other places but a few miles distant. 

 As examples of this, there is one variety which goes under 

 the names "Unknown," "Wonderful," and "Quadroon"; 

 again, "Speckled" and "Whip-poor-will" are actually 

 the same variety; "Gourd," "Matthews," and "Pole- 

 cat " are practically the same; and the list may be extended 

 almost without limit. 



This confusion has been further increased by the 

 practice of calling entirely distinct varieties by the same 

 name, as is the case with the names "Everlasting," "Red 

 Ripper" and others. "Crowder" is applied to any short 

 variety in which the seeds are closely packed together or 

 crowded. "Lady" is to indicate any variety with slender 

 pods filled with small, plump, oblong seeds. 



On account of this confusion in names and the differ- 

 ences in appearances and habits of the different varieties, 

 it is difficult to give absolute characteristics which can be 

 uniformly recognized as marking distinct, permanent 



