SOYBEANS 537 



same place in farm rotation as the cowpea, an agronomic 

 comparison of the two crops has often been made. 



The soybean is determinate in growth ; that is, it reaches 

 a definite size and matures. Nearly all varieties of cow- 

 peas, on the other hand, are indeterminate, continuing 

 growth until killed by frost. With the exception of a 

 few varieties, the soybean does not vine, but grows erect or 

 nearly erect. Cowpeas, on the other hand, are viny plants, 

 and therefore more difficult to harvest. Soybeans mature 

 all their pods at one time. Cowpeas continue to produce 

 green pods as long as the plant lives. 



Soybeans will withstand rather heavy frosts, both in 

 the spring, when young, and in the fall, when nearly 

 mature, while the same frosts are fatal to cowpeas. They 

 are more drought resistant than cowpeas, and in a dry 

 season will give much greater yields ; they will also with- 

 stand excessive moisture much better. 



For green manuring or soil improving, the cowpea is 

 far more valuable than the soybean, as it will smother 

 weeds much more successfully. 



The value of the hay of the two plants is nearly the 

 same. There is frequently doubt as to which is the more 

 desirable to grow. On relatively poor soil or when broad- 

 casted, cowpeas are always preferable. When cultivated, 

 the soybean will yield the greater return, and if cut late, 

 the hay is more easily cured. 



For growing with corn or sorghum for hay or silage the 

 cowpep Is generally preferable to the soybean. 



The feeding value of an acre of soybeans for beef cattle 

 was found by the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment 

 Station to be about 50 per cent greater than that of cow- 

 peas grown on an adjoining acre. This was also approxi- 

 mately the difference in yield of the two crops. 



