49 
W. F. Allen’s Plant and Seed Catalogue, Salisbury, Md 
COW PEAS 
cow pea bay to timoth^ 
hay, and I believe ever* 
one else will after giving 
it a trial Of still mon 
importance is the fac“ 
that you can grow a val 
uable crop of hay and 
leave your land in better 
condition than before 
you took it off, inasmuch 
as large quantities of ni¬ 
trogen are stored away 
in the soil, through the 
agency of nitrogen gath¬ 
ering nodules on the pea 
roots. A crop of cow pea 
vines, or evbn of cow pea 
stubbles and roots, make 
a valuable addition to the soil for sowing grain, planting corn, strawberry plants, 
or in fact almost any crop tha t is grown. With the addition of a little potash and 
phosphoric acid (which is comparatively very cheap), a crop of pea vines is equal 
to a liberal dressing of stable manure. This is not theory, but is spoken from 
actual experience, which l have been practicing for several years. Seed should 
be sown at the rate of one to qne and a-half bushels per acre. The crop for this 
season is the shortest it has been for several years, and the price will necessarily 
be high. This was caused by the great amount of rain during the fall months, 
when the seed are saved. I would, no doubt, not exaggerate the conditions to say 
that fully two-thirds of the crop has been spoiled by the wet weather, and the 
prices I am giving below are subject to market changes. I notice that some of 
our competitors are asking as much as $4.00 per bushel. I shall maintain my price 
of $3.00 as long as I can do so without losing money. 
THE CLAY COW PEA. —This is so called from the color of the seed, which are the 
color of reddish yellow clay. The plant is of the same season and habit of growth as-the 
other varieties. Many growers in the South prefer it to the large black variety because 
of the fineness of growth which makes it easier to cure. It makes a vigorous growth 
and therefore an abundant yield of hay. Price, pt. 25c: pk. 90c ; % bu. $1.60 ; bu. $3.00. 
RAMSHORN or LARGE SOUTHERN BL.ACK=EYE. —itar food purposes this is 
unquestionably the best. It yields heavily of grain and is equal to most varieties for hay 
and all other purposes for which cow peas are used. The grain of the Large Black Eye 
has sold for $1-50 to $2.50 on the open market, for food purposes in the fall soon after 
k. gathering, for several years, and the probability is that this demand will continue. 
Price, qt, 25c; pk. 90c; H bu. $1.60; bu. $3.00. 
WHIP-POOR-WILL.— This is the most valuable and popular of all cow peas when 
used strictly for hay crop and improving the soil. The reason for its popularity is that 
it makes a strong upright growth, with less runners, therefore does not tangle so 
badly and is easier to handle. Another strong point Is that it holds foliage longer than 
any other, in fact, the foliage is held so well that ripe peas may be picked, and then 
cut for hay. No other variety will do this. You make no mistake in planting the 
Whip-Poor-Will. Price; qt. 25c; pk. 90c; bu. $1.60; bu. $3. 
. flUXED,—We usually have in stock a quantity of 
mixed peas, consisting of the above named varieties 
and others. Many prefer these for sowing for hay, 
and for any purpose except for seed, growing they 
are considered as good as any. Price. $3.00 bu. 
CANADA RIEZL-D PEAS. 
An excellent forage plant. Foliage and habit of 
§*°wth quite similar to garden peas. The Canada 
Field Pea is one of the very best selling crops at the 
North, and is largely.used for that purpose and for 
green manuring. It is sometimes grown alone, but 
the most satisfactory dairy results are obtained from 
sowing it with oats, rye or barley. It makes good ensi¬ 
lage, and is an admirable food, either green or.dry, for 
cattle, being highly nutritious and rich in milk pro¬ 
ducing elements. It is quite hardy and may be sown 
early m the spring, and will be ready to cut in May or 
June. The seed should be sown at the rate of one to 
one and a half bushels per acre. Pkt. 10c; pt. 20c; 
qt. 35c postpaid. By express or freight, not prepaid, 
pk. 50c; bu. $1.75. 
SOY OR SOJA BEANS. 
This new forage plant has attracted more at¬ 
tention around Salisbury the past season than any 
novelty for a long time. It will produce more hay 
to the acre than anything I know of. I think it 
will make a little more than cow peas. It takes 
the entire season, however, for the soja beans to 
grow, while the cow peas can be used as a catch- 
crop after ealy vegetables, strawberries, etc. 
The accompanying ill ustration will give you some 
idea of the m ignificent growth it makes. 
Soja beans make excellent hay for horses 
and cattle, if cat just when the beans have 
filled. It is easy to cure and easy to handle. Will 
keep growing until frost, and therefore, unlike 
most other hay, crops can bo cut any time after 
maturity at the convenience of the grower, and it 
will stand for weeks after being ready to cut 
without material damage. Price, qt. 20c; peck 80c; 
K bu. $1.40; bu. $2 59. 
83f“When cow peas or soja beans are to go by 
mail, add 15 cents per quart for postage. 
‘GOLD SKIN” SWEET POTATO. 
C LOVER AND GRASS SEED . 
CRiriSON OR SCARLET CLOVER.— A well-known and 
favorite winter cover crop and soil enricher, affording 
excellent early foliage. Seed should be sown in August 
or September; use seed at the rate of 15 to 25 pounds per 
acre, depending upon the soil—the thinner the soil the 
more seed should be used. It grows all winter when the 
ground is not frozen. 11 is very beautiful when in bloom, 
and valuable for soiling purposes, for pasture or hay, 
and the roots add materially to the fertility of the soil. 
My seed are the very finest that can be produced, and I 
