THE COW PEA. 37 



is gathered. Probably one-half of the cow peas grown in 

 the southern states are grown and grazed in this way, and 

 are always regarded as furnishing the best possible grazing 

 for milch cows, fattening animals and hogs. The erect 

 varieties are preferred for this purpose, as the climbers 

 tangle the corn and interfere with its gathering. When 

 pastured, the droppings from the animals return nearly all 

 of the fertilizing elements of the crop to the soil, and benefit 

 the field nearly as much as though the entire crop were 

 plowed under as a green manure. The meat and milk pro- 

 duced represent clear profit. The crop does not bear 

 continuous grazing, still it gives abundant feed for a month 

 or six weeks, and by arranging a succession of fields, good 

 pasture may be provided during several months. 



More actual feed is produced with less waste per acre 

 when the vines are cut or pulled for soiling, for which this 

 is a standard crop wherever soiling is practiced. Heavier 

 yields are secured by planting the climbing varieties with 

 corn or sorghum in the same rows, at the same time, by which 

 method each crop produces nearly as much as either one 

 planted alone. The stubble of vines cut before they have 

 blossomed frequently sends up a considerable second growth, 

 but the total yield is seldom more than that secured by a 

 single cutting at maturity. 



THE COW PEA AS A RENOVATING CROP. 



The cow pea always leaves the soil which grows it, in a 

 better condition than it was before the crop was planted. 



