CROPS AND SOIL IMPROVEMENT 



require a relatively long season, but some of them 

 are heavy producers of seed. 



There are varieties requiring six months of 

 southern heat to bring them to maturity, and some 

 failures attending the introduction of the cowpea 

 into more northern latitudes have been due to bad 

 selection. A few varieties reach maturity within 

 two months of hot weather. 



The trailing habit is affected by the soil, the 

 bunch varieties tending to trail when grown on 

 fertile land. When the crop is wanted for seed, 

 the peas that do not trail heavily will prove more 

 satisfactory. The selection of variety is a matter 

 of latitude and purpose, exactly as it is with corn. 



Fertilizing Value. A heavy growth of the 

 cowpea is worth as much to the soil as a good crop 

 of red clover. When the equivalent of two tons 

 of hay is produced, the roots and vines contain 

 nearly as much plant-food as the roots and first 

 crop of medium red clover that makes two tons 

 of hay. Some analyses show a higher percentage 

 of protein in cowpea hay than in clover hay, and 

 the experience of many stockmen indicates that 

 such is the case. The roots and stubble have 

 somewhat less fertilizing power than in the case 

 of the clover, and all thin soils should have the 



[100] 



