CORN GROWTH AND FEEDING 47 



OTHER LEGUMINOUS CROPS 



Cowpeas and Soy Beans — Clover seems particu- 

 larly adapted to central and northern United States. 

 For southern fields all the elements of a successful 

 nitrogen gathering crop have been found in the cow- 

 pea and soy bean. Cowpeas are probably of Asiatic 

 origin, being an article of human diet in India and 

 China. The crop was introduced into southern United 

 States and has rapidly spread until it is being generally 

 grown as far north as central Michigan. The crop 

 produces a large yield of very valuable feed and is one 

 of the best for collecting atmospheric nitrogen. 



There are many varieties, as a result of continued 

 selection and growth on widely differing soils and 

 under different climatic conditions. Of these varieties 

 the most common are the Whippoorwill, Black, Red, 

 Clay and Black Eye. The Black Eye and Red are the 

 favorites in central United States, while the Clay, 

 Whippoorwill and Black Eye are most extensively 

 grown under southern conditions. The Whippoorwill, 

 Clay and Black Eye have particular trailing habits of 

 growth, while the Black and Red are more bushy and 

 upright growing varieties. The only objection to these 

 crops comes from the fact that with present machinery 

 there is some difficulty in harvesting them. This diffi- 

 culty will doubtless disappear as more improved ma- 

 chinery is brought into general use. Where large 

 quantities of stock are produced, and pasture is neces- 

 sary, these crops are usually fed by simply turning the 

 live stock into the fields. 



The seedbed for cowpeas is prepared as for corn, 

 by plowing medium to shallow and thoroughly pul- 

 verizing the ground. The cowpeas are seeded broad- 

 cast or in drills, the drill being most satisfactory 

 because the fields can then be cultivated. In drilling, 



