128 One Thousand Questions in Agriculture 



for hops, and would give you no growth during the frosty season. 

 Probably there is nothing better than burr clover for such a winter 

 growth. Hop vines should be allowed to grow as long as they main- 

 tain the thrifty green color, because the growth of the leaves 

 strengthens the root. But when they begin to become weakened 

 and yellow they can be removed without injury. It is not necessary 

 to wait for them to become fully dead. 



Growing Cowpeas. 



What is the best variety of cow peas for a forage crop? I want a 

 variety which zvith irrigation zvill come up after it has been cut, so as 

 to keep growing and not be like some ivhich I tried last year. They grew 

 up like ordinary garden peas and were just a waste of ground. 



Possibly you did not get cowpeas; they do not look like garden 

 peas at all: they look more like running beans, which they are. The 

 crop is not counted satisfactory except on low, moist land, for on 

 uplands, even with irrigation, it does not seem to behave right. 

 We do not know that a second growth can be expected, for in the 

 Southern States it is grown as a single crop, and resowing is done 

 if a succession is desired, the point being made at the South that the 

 plant is adapted to this method of culture because it grows so rapidly 

 that it can be twice sown and harvested during the frost-free period. 



Cowpeas in the San Joaquin. 



How late in the season zvill it be profitable to plant cowpeas? What 

 is the best manner of planting? Are there several varieties? If so, 

 which one is best adapted to plant after oats? The land can be irrigated 

 until about August lo. Will it be advisable to plow up a poor stand 

 of alfalfa about July i and plant to cozv peas? 



You can plant cowpeas all summer on land which is moist enough 

 by natural moisture or irrigation to promote growth. What you will 

 get by late planting depends upon moisture and absence of an early 

 fall frost. If your alfalfa stand is bad enough to need re-sowing anyway, 

 you may get a good catch crop of cowpeas by doing as you propose. 

 If, however, you plow under much coarse stuff in putting in the peas 

 the growth may be irregular. It can, of course, be improved by 

 free irrigation. On clear land moderately retentive much more is 

 being done in summer growth of cowpeas without irrigation than 

 expected. There are several good varieties. One of these is the 

 Whippoorwill. Cowpeas can be sown in furrows three feet apart and 

 cultivated, using about 40 pounds of seed to the acre, or they may 

 be broadcasted, which takes about twice as much seed. 



Cowpeas and Canadian Peas. 



Would Canadian field peas and cow peas be valuable as a forage 

 crop for cows and hogs; also as fertiliser? Please tell us also when to 

 plant, how to plant, etc. 



