LEGUMES FOR FORAGE AND GRAIN 



315 



up the soil fertility. When the entire crop is plowed 

 under, the large growth of vegetable matter, containing 

 a large amount of nitrogen, is added to the soil. It is 

 also of great value in building up the soil when grown for 

 hay or grain, since it 

 has a rather deep root 

 system and consider- 

 able nitrogen is added 

 to the soil if only the 

 roots and stubble are 

 plowed under. If the 

 crop is used for hay, 

 much of the vegetable 

 matter finds its way 

 back to the soil as 

 barnyard manure. 



321. Cultural meth- 

 ods. — The cultural 

 methods employed in 

 growing cowpeas are 

 similar to those de- 

 scribed for soy beans, 

 except perhaps in the 

 rate of seeding which 

 is usually a little lighter 

 for the cowpea. When 

 seeded in rows, 3 to 



4 pecks per acre are required, and from 4 to 8 pecks 

 when drilled. In the South, and also in manj' sections 

 farther north, cowpeas are frequently seeded with other 

 crops like corn, sorghum, or millet. When seeded with 

 other crops they are used either for hay or for soiling. 

 Cowpea hay is rather difficult to cure, but when grown 



Fig. 115. 



- Cowpeas and corn make ex- 

 cellent forage. 



