48 THE COW PEA. 



benefit to the land by keeping it from being burned by the 

 heat, whipped by the wind, washed by rains or made foul 

 by weeds. 



The particular rotation followed must depend on the 

 other crops grown, but the cow pea succeeds under so many 

 different conditions that it can fit almost any rotation 

 system. The proper rotation on each farm depends upon 

 the location, the special needs of the soil, and the business 

 management of the farmer, so, in this respect, no specific 

 directions can be given here. The best that can be said, 

 and a rule that may always be followed with advantage is, 

 to sum up what has just been said, no matter what other 

 crops are grown or rotations followed, whenever the land 

 can be spared during any two months of warm weather, put 

 in a crop of cow peas. There will be a profit in the crop 

 itself and the ground will be put in the best possible con- 

 dition for the following crop. 



COW PEAS COMPARED WITH OTHER 

 LEGUMES. 



Each of the leguminous crops, cow peas, alfalfa, red 

 clover, melilotus and others has its place — its advantages 

 and disadvantages. At least one of these crops must be 

 grown on every economically managed farm, for the grow- 

 ing of legumes is the least expensive method of restoring 

 exhausted soils, keeping strong soils good and providing 

 plant food for future crops. 



