78 SHEEP FEEDING 



peas. They should be planted at the rate of about fifteen to 

 twenty pounds per acre, but, as the size of the peas varies so 

 greatly, a better rule for the correct proportion of peas to 

 corn is, to every kernel of corn plant one pea and a half. 

 The varieties that have proved to be the most successful 

 with this method of planting are the Black, Red Ripper, 

 Clay, and Whippoorwill. 



The second method of planting cowpeas in corn, and the 

 one that is probably most widely recommended, is to drill 

 from two to three rows of peas between the corn rows at 

 the time of laying by the corn. This is usually done with 

 a one-horse grain drill, the drilling taking the place of the 

 last cultivation. About twenty to thirty pounds of seed per 

 acre is generally sufficient. More than three rows of peas 

 makes such a heavy growth that no pods will form ; in 

 fact there are fewer pods matured with this method, owing 

 to lateness of planting, the shade of the corn, and fre- 

 quently lack of moisture, than when the peas are planted 

 according to the first method. The early -maturing varieties 

 and those that are less inclined to vine, such as New Era or 

 Extra Early Black Eye, should be planted at laying-by time. 



The third method is mentioned not as a recommendation 

 but on account of its being so widely practiced. It simply 

 consists of broadcasting the peas ahead of the last cultiva- 

 tion, at the rate of from thirty to forty-five pounds per acre. 

 This method is surest of failure during unfavorable years 

 because a good many of the peas are not covered, and 

 those that do start are generally so shallow-rooted that a 

 series of dry days is apt to kill the young plants. The main 

 point in favor of broadcasting the peas is its rapidity of 

 sowing. It is customary for a man to ride a horse up and 

 down about every third or fourth row and either scatter 



