154 CHAPTER X 



Planting. — The rate of seeding depends largely on the 

 variety grown, whether large or small seeded, and whether 

 grown for seed, hay or green manure. Smaller quantities are 

 used when the seed is drilled and when the crop is to be used 

 for forage and green-manuring ; larger quantities when broad- 

 casted and when the crop is to be harvested for seed. Thick 

 seedmg hastens maturity. 



Sowdng must be regulated by the average dates of the 

 occurrence of the last and first frosts. If grown for green-man- 

 m'ing or forage, at least ninety days must be allowed before the 

 first frost. For green-manuring, as the crop is best ploughed 

 under when most succulent and when the soil is still moist, it 

 should be planted in December or early in January so as to be 

 ready for ploughing down in March with the late rains. Frost 

 causes the leaves to drop off very readily, and for forage the 

 crop must be cut, therefore, before being injured in this way. 

 The seed should not be sown until all danger of late frosts is 

 over. 



Planting is usually done with an ordinary maize planter 

 fitted with g inch plates. The seed should be planted about 

 2 inches in depth, 6 to 9 inches apart in the rows, and the 

 amount used should be about 15 pounds per acre. 



For seed it should be sown in rows 2 to 3 feet apart during 

 November to January ; for forage and grecji-manuring it may 

 be broadcasted or planted in drills 18 inches to 2 feet apart. 

 The erect types may be planted closer than the trailing varieties. 



Some of the very late varieties will not mature seed on the 

 highveld no matter how early they are planted. 



When sown between the rows of maize, the seed should be 

 planted when the maize is about 2 to 3 feet in height, i.e., a 

 little before the time when the last ordinary cultivation of maize 

 would take place, in this case the last cultivation. This prac- 

 tice, though, is not recommended in areas of small rainfall. 



When used between the rows of maize, the latter should 

 be planted in rows 4 to 6 feet apart, and the cowpeas drilled in 

 between these rows, usually about a month to six weeks after 

 the maize has germinated. The seed is sometimes mixed with 

 the maize seed or with the fertiliser and sown with the maize 

 in the same rows. In this way the viney types are supported 

 by the maize. Some growers follow the practice of broadcast- 

 ing the seed between the rows and covering the seed w^ith the 

 ordinary cultivator. Where moisture is limited, though, the 

 best method seems to be in planting the maize wide apart and 

 drillmg the cowpeas in betw'een the maize rows. 



