14 BULLETIN 1034, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
There was an increase in the number of farmers raising rye in 
1918 as compared with 1913, but, with this increase, only 1.1 per cent 
of the crop area in 1918 on the white-owner farms was in rye. AI- 
though a part of the rye was harvested for grain, it was used more 
frequently for winter and early spring pasture. 
COWPEAS. 
Cowpeas have an important place in the cropping system of Sum- 
ter County. The fact is they can be made to fit advantageously into 
almost any cropping system as a first crop, as a second crop, or as 
an intertilled crop. Furthermore, cowpeas may be used for hay, for 
seed, or for pasture, or in combination with velvet beans, sorghum, 
or other crops for a hay or grazing crop. Being a leguminous crop 
which succeeds on practically all soils in this area, the cowpea plays 
an important part in adding nitrogen to the soil and improving its 
mechanical condition. : 
In 1913 the cowpea was the crop most generally used as a second 
crop, following small grains and for planting with corn. In 1918 
its use in this way was even more pronounced. 
Cowpeas occupied 11 per cent of the crop area on white-owner farms 
in 1913, and 18 per cent in 1918. They were seldom grown as a first 
crop, about one-half of the acreage being grown after small grains 
and harvested for hay; the other half being interplanted with corn, 
some of the seed being picked, and the rest of the seed and the vmes 
left on the ground for pasture or to be plowed under. White owners 
devoted the most attention to the cowpea. 
VELVET BEANS. 
The velvet bean is one of the most important crops of recent intro- 
duction in this area and is becoming well established in the cropping 
system. It yields well and may be utilized in a number of ways. It 
was used as an annual green manure crop, as a seed crop, as a hay 
crop, and as a fall and winter pasture crop. Probably the two most 
important uses of the velvet bean here were as a grazing crop for cattle 
and hogs during the fall and winter months and as a soil improver. 
It is usually grown in combination with corn or other crops. When 
the velvet bean is pastured practically all the material in the crop is 
returned to the soil and its value as a means of maintaining or increas- 
ing crop yields is becoming well recognized in this area. 
In 1913 only 4 out of 534 farmers were growing velvet beans, while 
in 1918 348 out of 550 farmers were growing them. They were more 
generally grown by white farmers than by colored farmers. Prac- 
tically all the velvet beans grown were planted with corn and pas- 
