232 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 



of corn planted alone and with cow-peas drilled between the rows 

 at the last cultivation. 



Table I. — Yield of Corn per acre, Bushels. 



how planted. 1903. 1904. 1905. 1906. 1907. Average. 



Corn alone ...23.36 56.57 37. 80 64.17 38.01 43.98 



Corn with cow - peas, 

 planted at last culti- 

 vation 23.13 67.28 45.98 59.89 4181 47.62 



The average for five years shows that corn in which cow- 

 peas were planted produced 3.64 bushels more grain per acre 

 than corn alone. In 1906, which was relatively dry in August 

 and September, the corn with cow-peas yielded 4.28 bushels per 

 acre less than corn alone. In 1903 the yield was slightly in favor 

 of corn alone. For the other three years the yield was greater 

 where the cow-peas were planted with the corn. 



In the drier sections of the state, where fall pasture is 

 needed, it would be better to plant the cow-peas in wheat, oats, 

 or barley stubble rather than in corn. When planted after wheat 

 or oats the cow-peas make a much ranker and more rapid growth, 

 are not checked so severely by a dry fall, and will produce in 

 nearly every instance more fall pasture than could possibly be se- 

 cured by planting in corn. After pasturing, the cow-peas may be 

 turned under in the fall, leaving the ground in excellent condition 

 for corn the following spring. 



Soil Improvement and Green Manuring. 



The growing of cow-peas greatly improves the soil. Being a 

 rank feeder and deep-rooted, the crop is able to use plant-food 

 which the roots of other plants may not secure. Much of this 

 plant-food later becomes available to other crops planted after the 

 rotation with cow-peas. This crop has the advantage over other 

 crops which are not legumes, in that it is able to use the free 

 nitrogen of the air through the aid of the bacteria which live upon 

 its roots. The plowing under of a crop of green cow-peas will 

 greatly increase the supply of humus and nitrogen in the soil, and 



