Thirty-fourth Annual Convention. . 261 



When proper rotation and cultivation are practiced in the culture 

 of cow-peas, there are but few weeds to contend with. The cow- 

 pea, in common with other leguminous plants, possesses the power 

 ©f utilizing atmospheric nitrogen in its growth. The stirring of 

 the soil by cultivation encourages the circulation of soil air and 

 presents conditions more favorable for the development of nitrify- 

 ing organisms without detracting from the more apparent benefits 

 of cultivation. 



Fertilizing Cowpeas. 

 On account of the fertilizing value of the cowpea and the 

 fact that it gives proportionately better returns from poor soil 

 than probably any other crop, it is usually considered unprofitable 

 to apply to it either commercial fertilizers or other manures. That 

 the affects of nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash alone and in 

 combination might be noted, several plots of Whippoorwill peas 

 were sown upon light sandy soil in May, 1900, and the yield of 

 peas and hay determined. The soil was occupied by rye from 

 September, 1899, to April, 1900, and the rye was plowed in three 

 weeks before the peas were drilled in 3j4-foot rows. Frequent 

 shallow cultivation was given until the vines interfered with the 

 passage of the cultivator between the rows. The following 

 table gives the result : 



1901 1902 



2 Description of Plot. m| "sIm ^| mt 



Am 2^ Am ^ -^ 



1 No Manure 27.5 2341 21.1 2462 



2 50 pounds Muriate of Potash 31.4 2689 25.6 2977 



3 200 pounds Acid Phosphate 32.7 3140 32.1 3269 



4 75 pounds Nitrate of Soda 25.9 2594 22.6 2552 



5 50 pounds Muriate of Potash 



200 pounds Acid Phosphate 36.4 3784 34.7 3974 



6 No Manure 24.3 2481 22.6 2394 



7 200 pounds Acid Phosphate 



75 pounds Nitrate of Soda 30.4 3705 35.1 4009 



8 75 pounds Nitrate of Soda 



50 pounds Muriate of Potash 31.6 3441 29.4 3842 



9 No Manure 27.8 2224 19.4 2261 



to 50 pounds Muriate of Potash 



200 pounds Acid Phosphate 35.9 3878 26.6 4288 



75 pounds Nitrate of Soda 



