2^^ Illinois State Dairymen s Association. 



May, until August, September or October. If planting is done 

 after July 1, due consideration must be given the variety planted, 

 since the period of ripening varies between 60 and 300 days in 

 different varieties. Some varieties have repeatedly failed to pro- 

 duce seed at Fayetteville when planted early in May or later. For 

 late planting the following varieties may be depended upon in the 

 order named : New Ear, Warren's New Hybrid, Warren's Extra 

 Early, Old Mans, Extra Early Black Eye and Whippoorwill. 



Covvpeas are now to an extent greater than ever before 

 planted as a main crop, or second crop, for either shelled peas, hay, 

 pasturage, cover crop, or fertilizer, or for two or three of the 

 above purposes. Planted at whatever time, thorough preparation 

 is insisted upon. The soil should be well broken and harrowed 

 until well fined. If rolled and an additional harrowing be given 

 the results will be all the better. The most convenient and at the 

 same time most profitable place in rotation that may be given the 

 cowpea is as a second crop following wheat, oats, rye, barley, 

 Irish potatoes, crimson clover, vetch, truck crops, or any crop that 

 is harvested in May, June or July. If early varieties are then 

 planted they may be harvested or pastured in time to seed the 

 same land to any of the above crops (except Irish potatoes) , while 

 for the second crop of Irish potatoes an early variety of cowpeas 

 sown in May or not later than the middle of June, affords the 

 best preparation for planting the potatoes early in August. In 

 such a case the peas should be converted into hay, and the ground 

 immediately prepared for the second crop potatoes. In addition 

 to the value of the grain and hay secured from cowpeas grown 

 after grain harvested in the spring and before grain seeded in the 

 fall, there is an increase in the value of the subsequent crop of 

 grain not greater than the cost of the crop of cowpeas. (See Bul- 

 letins Nos. 62 and 66.) 



Of the various methods employed in planting cowpeas for 

 grain, none have given so good results as planting with ordinary 

 corn planters and in rows from 2^ to 3^ feet apart, 3 feet being 

 preferred. For hay, the grain drill, with every other tube plugged, 

 has been the most economical of seed and time, and leaves the sur- 

 face of the soil in best condition for harvesting with the mower. 

 All but two or three of the tubes of the grain drill may be pluggea, 

 thus planting two or three rows at once, and the planting done 

 more rapidly than with a single row corn planter. Thus planted. 



