BEST KNOWN VARIETIES 



421 



days as late. However, there are some tropical varieties that will 

 not mature even in two hundred days. 



I. Color of Feeds is sometimes used in classification, but the vari- 

 ation is so great it is not satisfactory. Black, white, and red are 

 the dominant colors, but most varieties are mixtures of these colors. 



Best Known Varieties. WJiippoorwitt is the oldest and best 

 known variety of cow peas, and it is probable that half the acreage is 



FIG. 180. Cow peas in rows. Seed crop ready to harvest. 



sown to this variety. It is seldom erect after much growth is 

 attained. The Iron cow pea is of rather recent origin, being dis- 

 covered in South Carolina in 1888. Its most important quality is 

 resistance to both the wilt disease and root knot disease, and is rec- 

 ommended to grow wherever these diseases are common. New Era 

 is a popular early variety of the bushy type. Groit is said to be the 

 best variety for growing in the northern States. The last three 

 varieties are more erect and are easily harvested for hay. 



