THE COWPHA 257 
Time and method of seeding 
The time for seeding the cowpea depends on 
the weather. The crop should not be sown until 
danger of frost is past, and the soil is thoroughly 
warm. In cold, backward springs many failures 
have been recorded because of too early seeding; 
the seed is then liable to rot, and if uniform and 
quick germination does take place, the crop is re- 
tarded and is likely to be unsatisfactory even if 
warm weather follows. This is particularly true 
when cowpeas are grown for green forage or hay. 
Neither should they be sown for forage later than 
two months before the average date of frost, as 
the first heavy frost will destroy the plants and no 
variety that is now known will reach a satisfactory 
stage of growth within this period except as green- 
manure. 
For forage and green manure, the crop may be 
sown broadcast at the rate of one to one and one- 
half bushels per acre, or it may be drilled in with 
an ordinary grain-drill. If the seeding is not 
made too early, broadcasting is very satisfactory. 
If early growth is retarded, weeds get a foothold, 
and the crop is likely to be choked out. When 
the crop is grown for seed, planting should prefer- 
ably be in drills, from two to three feet apart, or 
a little closer than corn, and the quantity of seed 
may be reduced to three pecks per acre. When 
Q 
