14 BULLETIN 1034, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



There was an increase in the number of farmers raising rye in 

 1918 as compared with 1913, but, with this increase, only 1.1 per cent 

 of the crop area in 1918 on the white-owner farms was in rye. Al- 

 thougli a part of the rye was harvested for grain, it was used more 

 frequently for winter and early spring pasture. 



Cowpeas have an important place in the cropping system of Sum- 

 ter County. The fact is they can be made to fit advantageously into 

 almost any cropping system as a first crop, as a second crop, or as 

 an intertilled crop. Furthermore, cowpeas may be used for hay, for 

 seed, or for pasture, or in combination with velvet beans, sorghum, 

 or other crops for a hay or grazing crop. Being a leguminous crop 

 which succeeds on practically all soils in this area, the cowpea plays 

 an important part in adding nitrogen to the soil and improving its 

 mechanical condition. 



In 1913 the cowpea was the crop most generally used as a second 

 crop, following small grains and for planting with corn. In 1918 

 its use in this way was even more pronounced. 



Cowpeas occupied 11 per cent of the crop axea on white-owner farms 

 in 1913, and 18 per cent in 1918. They were seldom grown as a first 

 crop, about one-half of the acreage being grown after small grains 

 and harvested for hay ; the other half being interplanted with corn, 

 some of the seed being picked, and the rest of the seed and the vi«ies 

 left on the ground for pasture or to be plowed under. White owners 

 devoted the most attention to the cowpea. 



VEL\^T BEANS;. 



The velvet bean is one of the most important crops of recent intro- 

 duction in this area and is becoming well established in the cropping 

 system. It yields well and may be utilized in a number of ways. It 

 was used as an annual green manure crop, as a seed crop, as a hay 

 crop, and as a fall and winter pasture crop. Probably the two most 

 important uses of the velvet bean here were as a grazing crop for cattle 

 and hogs during the fall and winter months and as a soil improver. 

 It is usually grown in combination with corn or other crops. When 

 the velvet bean is pastured practically all the material in the crop is 

 returned to the soil and its value as a means of maintaining or increas- 

 ing crop yields is becoming well recognized in this area. 



In 1913 only 4 out of 534 farmers were growing velvet beans, while 

 in 1918 348 out of 550 farmers were growing them. They were more 

 generally grown by white farmers than by colored farmers. Prac- 

 tically all the velvet beans grown were planted with corn and pas- 



