THE CULTURE OF COWPEAS 393 



the heavier clays and clay loams. As the cowpea is a nitro- 

 gen gatherer, this element need not be supplied. A con- 

 siderable quantity of food material is stored in the large 

 seed, and the young plant is able to develop a vigorous root 

 system before this is exhausted, which explains why the cow- 

 pea thrives on land that is very low in fertility. Rich land 

 tends to produce vines at the expense of seed production. 

 A fair supply of potash and phosphorus is necessary for the 

 best growth of the crop, and on poor soils greatly increased 

 yields are obtained when these elements are supplied. 



498. Growing the Crop. Though the plants will grow 

 fairly well on land that has had little attention, the stronger 

 growth in a good seed bed pays well for the extra work of 

 preparation. The land is usually plowed for cowpeas, though 

 when they follow a grain crop or a cultivated crop late in 

 the season, the seed may be disked or cultivated in without 

 plowing. The seed is sown broadcast, with the grain drill, 

 or in rows far enough apart to cultivate. When grown for 

 hay, one of the first two methods is used, while for seed pro- 

 duction the plants are more often grown in cultivated rows. 

 The seed should be covered to a depth of from !J/ to 2 

 inches. As the plants are tender, seeding should not begin 

 till after all danger of frost is past and the weather is warm. 

 Sowings can be made from that time up to August in the 

 South, while along the northern limit of their cultivation, 

 seed may be sown as late as July 10 with fair prospect of a 

 good hay crop. The usual rate of seeding is 2 to 3 pecks in 

 rows, 4 to 5 pecks when sown with the grain drill, and 6 to 

 8 pecks when sown broadcast. When grown for hay, the 

 date of planting is usually fixed so that the harvest comes in 

 September, since weather conditions are generally more 

 favorable for curing at that time than at any other. Cow- 

 peas sown broadcast or with the grain drill require no further 



