THIRTY-SIXTH ANNUAL CONVENTION. 249 



third hole is allowed to run and care is used in driving, the rows 

 can be placed about 32 inches apart which is a good distance. 



l-farvesting. 



Cowpeas for hay or seed should be cut with a mower and 

 if the weather is favorable, they may be cured in the swath. 

 This method is not usually satisfactory however, as the leaves 

 break off badly in raking up, especially if one or two rains should 

 fall while they are curing. When cured in this way a hay tedder 

 can be used with much benefit in hastening the curing. 



A better way of curing in average seasons, is to cut them 

 in the evening or on a cloudy day so as to allow the leaves to 

 evaporate as much water as possible before drying, and when 

 well wilted, rake into light windrows to cure. A side delivery 

 rake can be used to great advantage in turning these windrows 

 if the peas are not too viny. They may also be placed in rather 

 tall narrow shocks after they are partially cured and allowed to 

 finish curing in the shock. 



Peas planted in rows usually fall down badly and are much 

 more difficult to cut than where drilled. If they have been culti- 

 vated the ridges of soft dirt interfere somewhat. There is on 

 the market, a device consisting of long fingers which are placed 

 on the mower to lift the peas and allow the cutter bar to run 

 imder them. 



Threshing Cowpeas. 



Cowpeas can be threshed with perfect success only with a 

 pea or bean huller. A wheat thresher may be used but it cracks 

 the peas so badly as to make it impractical except for some of 

 the smaller seeded varieties. A wheat thresher may be modified 

 so as to give fair satisfaction by using a large pulley on the 

 cylinder so as to reduce the speed, while the rest of the machine 

 is geared up to run at the usual rate. A part of the concave 

 teeth may also be removed with good results, but these are only 

 makeshift methods and a pea huller should be used if available. 

 In this connection it should be said that the introduction of pea 

 hullers should be encouraged in all parts of the state where peas 



