24 



THE COW PEA. 



the main crop is laid by, but oftener receive no attention 

 from planting until gathering; sown broadcast, of course, 

 they cannot be cultivated. 



Northern fruit growers have discovered a new use for 

 cow peas. After much discussion it has been decided that 

 a wise treatment for bearing orchards is to give thorough 

 surface cultivation until about August first, and then leave 

 the ground to some "cover" crop, that is, a crop that 

 will make a rapid growth through the late summer, form a 

 soft carpet for falling fruit and for protecting the land dur- 

 ing winter and then leave a large quantity of vegetable 

 matter for plowing under in the spring. As early in the 

 spring as possible, cow pea^ are sown in drills through the 

 orchard — or even in hills 2^ feet apart — and from the time 

 the plants are up, constant and thorough cultivation is 

 given. By August first, the vines are too large for the cul- 

 tivator and they are left to grow at will. In some instances 

 crimson clover is sown among the cow pea vines at the last 

 cultivation, and, with a variety like Early Black, the clover 

 makes a fair start and covers the ground after the frost kills 

 the cow pea vines. Such an orchard treatment has many 

 advantages, for which no other plant combines in itself all 

 the virtues and recommendations that it can be planted 

 early, permits constant and thorough cultivation, provides 

 a vast amount of vegetable matter, decays durino- winter 

 and permits early spring plowing. Some orchardists find 

 it pays, as well as benefits the fruits and trees, to turn in 

 hogs and sheep in time for them to eat the earlv wind-fall 



