THE COW PEA. 



the crop is grown. The season of beginning its growth 

 materially modifies its time of maturing as well as its 

 tendency to produce vines or runners. It is a common 

 saying that "early planting makes vines, but late planting 

 makes peas." For bulky, luxuriant vines, for late grazing, 

 green manuring, or winter covering for the ground, early 

 planting of some late maturing variety is correct; but, where 

 seed is the object, planting should be timed to allow only 

 for safe maturing before frost. In the south it is common 

 to sow late maturing varieties shortly after cotton is planted, 

 and the early kinds from the opening of the spring to late 

 in August. In the north the season is too short for the late 

 ripening varieties, so early maturing sorts should be planted 

 at about the same time as beans or melons. 



The choice and advantage of sowing broadcast or in 

 drills depends on the object in growing the crop, and, inci- 

 dentally the time of sowing and the cost of seed and labor. 

 In broadcasting, no labor is needed in cultivating, and the 

 vines soon cover and shade the ground, so that the crop costs 

 simply the seed and the sowing and gathering; in drills, the 

 labor and expense are more and the quantity and quality of 

 the yield usually better. More seed is required for broad- 

 casting than for drills and at least one bushel per acre should 

 be used. At the north five pecks are suggested When put 

 in drills these should be 2^ to 3,1 feet apart, and the sowing 

 may be done with an ordinary corn drill. A wheat drill can 

 also be used to advantage by plugging or tying up the holes 

 so as to make the rows 3^ feet apart. This will require 



