February, 1909.] 



those known as the legumes, which 

 possess the specific function of assimil- 

 ating or storing nitrogen in the soil. 

 They include clovers, cow-peas, Canada 

 field peas, vetches, soy beans, velvet 

 beans, lupins, and Beggar weed (Deamo- 

 Hum tortuosum). The second group are 

 non-leguminous and embrace rye, wheat, 

 barley, oats, buck-wheat, rape and 

 mustard. 



The cow-pea is looked upon as the most 

 useful. It forms a succulent, relishable, 

 nutritious forage for sheep, cattle, and 

 pigs during the hot summer months. 

 At that period all other palatable 

 fodders of high protein content are not 

 available and the natural grasses and 

 herbage are dry. 



Cow-peas as a drought-resisting fodder 

 stand unrivalled. They have been used 

 in India and other notoriously dry 

 countries for centuries. They have 

 acclimatised well here- The roots of 

 the plant, like that of lucerne, penetrate 

 deeply into the subsoils, in a vigorous 

 fashion searching for plant-food and 

 moisture, and at the same time opening 

 up the subsoils and rendering them 

 porous and available for the storage of 

 moisture and air. The roots attack the 

 stores of phosphoric acid and potash, 

 dissolving them for their own use as well 

 as for subsequent crops. 



The characteristic nodules of legumes 

 are found freely distributed along the 

 roots, and in these the bacteria are 

 engaged in assimilating atmospheric 

 nitrogen and promoting nitrification ; 

 inert plant-food is made soluble and a 

 source of root nourishment. 



The roots and stubble are ploughed 

 in with the excreta from the grazing 

 animal. It is approximately estimated 

 that the former alone give to each acre 

 21 lb. nitrogen, mostly gathered from 

 the air, and return 6 lb. phosphoric acid 

 and 15 lb. potash, largely drawn from 

 the subsoil, and in a form readily assimil- 

 able by the next crop. The organic 

 matter provides humus and increases 

 the moisture-holding capacity of the 

 soil. Whilst the plant is growing the 

 thick rich spreading foliage covers the 

 ground, arrests evaporation, stops the 

 growth of weeds, and keeps the soil in a 

 loose friable condition. 



It is an ideal cleansing crop and pays 

 its way in furnishing stock fodder, and 

 in addition the soil is enriched with 

 humus, nitrogen, potash and phosphoric 

 acid, fertility is restored, and the land 

 effectively manured for a main crop. In 

 short, to use a familiar farmers phrase, 

 the land is brought into " good heart." 



135 Edible Products. 



As a food for stock, particularly pigs, 

 during the latter part of summer we 

 have had abundant evidence of its flesh- 

 producing capacity, and, as with lucerne, 

 its power to provide a suitable inter- 

 mixture of lean flesh in bacon and pork. 

 Young pigs three months' old, when 

 building up frame and tissue, make ex- 

 cellent progress on cow-peas balanced 

 with rye, wheat, barley, potatoes, or 

 maize. The ration can be modified to suit 

 the needs of the animal as it approaches 

 the fattening stages. The foliage of the 

 plant may be utilised for providing 

 green forage, or allowed to ripen suffi- 

 ciently for hay or silage, or the beans 

 can be used as pig-feed. As a fodder 

 the yield per acre varies, and is deter- 

 mined by the variety grown, soil, culti- 

 vation, and climate. At this College 

 quantity has ranged from 4 to 12 tons of 

 green feed per acre. The composition 

 will average as follows :— 



Water ... ... 84 per cent. 



Dry matter ... 16 ,, 



100 



The dry matter contains :— 

 Fat ... ... -4 per cent. 



Protein ... ... 2-4 ,, 



Carbohydrates ... 7*2 ,, 



Mineral ash ... ... 1-6 



Nutritive ratio ... 1 : 3*3 



It will be noted that it closely 

 resembles lucerne in feeding value, and 

 can be fed with equally good results. 

 It contains nearly double the digestive 

 nutrient of oats, and 40 per cent, more 

 than maize. Tests have demonstrated 

 that pigs fed on cow-peas, with maize, 

 have produced a high-class bacon. 

 Owing to changed soil conditions and en- 

 vironment the cow-pea has varied from 

 time to time, hence there are many sorts. 

 Over thirty from America and India 

 have been tested on this farm. Vari- 

 ation ranges between two distinct 

 classes, cue class being upright in 

 growth, compact, bushy in habit, and 

 without runners ; the other producing 

 long, trailing vines, or runners, and 

 spreading well over the soil. 



The first or bush varieties are noted 

 for their heavy, quick growth and suc- 

 culence. Amongst these the following 

 have proved most successful on this 

 farm— Poona and Chinese Mottled. In 

 hot dry districts, with a sparse rainfall, 

 cow-peas take longer to mature. The 

 best sorts are those of trailing or recumb- 

 ent habit. They possess a deep root- 

 growth and are better enabled to with- 

 stand drought. The sorts recommended 

 are— Black, New Era, Clay, Whiu-Door- 

 Will, and White. It should be remem- 



