COWPEAS 505 



with the cowpea. Such a grass would prevent matting 

 of the leaves, and otherwise promote aeration and drying 

 of the shocks. None of the above-named plants quite 

 fulfills these requirements. Millet of any variety matures 

 earlier than the cowpea, and often is too small for support. 

 Amber sorghum is excellent from the standpoint of size 

 and time of maturity, but the juicy stems do not cure 

 easily. Johnson-grass is excellent wherever it is not objec- 

 tionable as a weed. The newly introduced Sudan-grass 

 promises to be exactly what is needed. Soybeans help 

 support the cowpeas, and with proper choice of variety, 

 simultaneous maturity is easily secured, but the mixture 

 does not cure much more easily than cowpeas alone. 



In seeding such mixtures, enough seed should be used 

 to secure a half stand, or better, of each. One bushel of 

 cowpeas and half a bushel of Amber sorghum an acre gives 

 excellent results ; if millet is used, 15 to 20 pounds is suffi- 

 cient. Johnson-grass seed is so poor in quality as a rule 

 that at least a bushel should be used, with a bushel of 

 cowpeas to an acre. Where a soybean-cowpea mixture 

 is used, better results are usually secured if the former 

 predominates, using one bushel of soybeans and one-half 

 bushel of cowpeas to the acre. 



616. Cowpea mixtures not broadcasted. Cowpeas 

 are very widely used for planting in between the rows of 

 corn. When thus used, the seed is sown at the rate of 

 about three pecks an acre after the last cultivation of the 

 corn. Usually the crop is allowed to mature, and some of 

 the pods picked, and the remainder of the crop is pastured. 

 In some regions, however, the cowpeas are cut for hay 

 after the corn has been harvested. If this is done, it is 

 desirable to cut the corn stems close to the ground, as 

 otherwise the stubble will interfere with a mower. Where 



