422 PEAS, BEANS, VETCHES, PEANUTS 



Adaptations. Cow peas are of tropical origin and very sensitive 

 to frost. They will not grow as far north as field peas, as they do 

 very poorly in a climate where the nights are cool. In general, cow 

 peas are less cultivated as we go farther northward from the Ohio 

 River. 



They are adapted to a very wide range of soils and show great 

 ability to produce a crop on poor and unproductive soil. As they are 

 a leguminous crop and capable of adding much nitrogen to the soil, 

 they therefore become of great importance to the South as a crop to 

 be grown on poor soils and turned under as a green manure crop. 



Cow peas also do well on soils deficient in lime, which greatly 

 increases their usefulness as soil restorative crops. 



Culture. Cow peas are sown in several ways, as broadcast in 

 pure cultures; second, in rows spaced thirty to thirty-six inches 

 apart; third, with standing corn and also sometimes mixed with 

 other plants. 



When sown alone, they are frequently sown broadcast or drilled 

 at the rate of one to two bushels per acre. This is a common 

 method when they are to be turned under for green manure. 



It is also a common method when they are to be harvested for hay ; 

 while the yield of seed is not so large when sown broadcast as when 

 planted in rows, yet considerable seed can be hand-picked before the 

 crop is cut for hay. 



Planting cow peas in rows about three feet apart is gaining in 

 favor as a general practice. Usually about one peck of seed per acre 

 is sufficient, and will require from two to three cultivations. When 

 sown in rows, usually they produce a very much heavier seed crop 

 than when sown broadcast, and in many cases will also produce a 

 better forage crop. 



It is also rather a common practice to grow cow peas with field 

 corn. They may be drilled in at the same time that the corn is 

 drilled, or their planting may be delayed until the last cultivation of 

 the corn. They can then be sown broadcast between the corn rows, 

 or a row drilled next to the corn rows. The latter method is prob- 

 ably the best. A fairly good seed crop can usually be harvested in 

 this way, and the cow pea vines harvested with the corn fodder as 

 forage. 



