THE COWPEA 263 



Or e ton An avera 2 e 



For^e contains <£$<* Hay 



Per cent Lbs. Lbs. Per cent 



Water 83.60 10.70 



Dry matter 16.40 328 2,624 89.30 



Ether extract 0.40 8 64 2.20 



Crude fiber 4.80 96 768 20.10 



Crude protein 2.40 48 384 16.60 



Ash 1.70 34 272 7.50 



Nitrogen -free extract . . . 7.10 142 1,136 42.90 



Cowpea pasture and hay 



When the crop is not needed for soiling, it 

 may be used for pasture or hay. It makes excel- 

 lent pasture, and, if the animals are not allowed 

 to feed it too closely in the beginning, it will 

 furnish good grazing for- six to eight weeks, as 

 the tendency of the plant is to throw out new 

 runners when the main stems are removed. Pas- 

 turing is wasteful, however, as the animals tramp 

 much of the herbage into the earth, besides kill- 

 ing some of the plants. It is better practice to 

 make the crop into hay, as it makes a very pala- 

 table and highly digestible product, and one 

 which, because of its high content of protein, 

 can be used to substitute for concentrated feeds. 



The cow T pea is one of the most useful forms 

 of winter forage, as it can be fed in considerable 

 quantity, and because it possesses characteristics 

 which make it a good substitute for purchased 

 protein feeds. Experiments at the New Jersey, 



