396 FIELD CROPS 



A field of mature cowpeas can be cheaply and profitably 

 harvested by pasturing it off with hogs or sheep. Cattle 

 also thrive on cowpea pasture, but should be turned in before 

 the peas mature. 



502. Use as a Soil Improver. One of the most important 

 uses of the cowpea is in the building up of poor or worn-out 

 soils. When the entire plant is turned under, it adds large 

 quantities of vegetable matter containing a considerable 

 supply of nitrogen. When the stubble alone is plowed under, 

 the vigorous roots materially improve the condition of the 

 soil and some nitrogen is added. Practically all crops grow 

 better after cowpeas; largely increased yields have been 

 obtained at all the southern experiment stations following 

 this crop. 



503. Growing with Other Crops. Cowpeas are .fre- 

 quently grown with other crops, including sorghum, corn, 

 and millet. When grown with sorghum or millet, the seed 

 is usually sown broadcast and the crop cut for hay or for 

 green forage. The addition of these plants makes the hay 

 somewhat easier to cure and also increases the yield. Peas 

 may be planted in the rows with corn and may grow along 

 with the crop, both being cut for fodder or for silage, or they 

 may be planted in the corn at the last cultivation. In the 

 latter case, they are pastured off with the corn stalks after 

 the corn is harvested, or the vines are turned under to add 

 vegetable matter to the soil. 



504. Insects and Diseases. Cowpeas are seldom injured 

 by insects when growing, but weevils are very destructive 

 to the seed after it is harvested. It is generally believed 

 that they damage the seed less in the pod than when it is 

 thrashed, and so it is rather a common practice not to thrash 

 the seed till near planting time in the spring. In thrashed 



