36 ASSOCIATED SEEDS, INC. 
COWPEAS 
Vigna _ sinensis 
The cowpea is native to Africa. Introduced to American agriculture as early as 1714; the 
South’s most important annual summer legume crop for food, feed, and soil improvement. The 
many varieties and types make this species more widely adapted to a greater diversity of 
Southern soils, seasons, and cultural conditions than any other summer legume. The cowpea 
is well adapted to soils low in lime and in fertility, but well drained; growing best through 
periods of warm, moist to hot dry weather. 
The better grades of planting seed are grown in regions where season and climate are suitable 
for the production of good quality seed free from mold and weather stains. The varieties 
listed here are those in most general use throughout Texas and the Southwest. 
The number of days given for each variety represents an average and is intended primarily 
for purposes of comparison. 
FOR FIELD USE 
BRABHAM (Bush) 
Originated as a natural cross between Iron and Whippoorwill, retaining the former's 
resistance to wilt and nematodes. A widely adapted variety, used for hay, grazing and 
soil improvement. Plants tall, semi-bushy; pods long, held high; seed similar to Whip- 
poorwill but somewhat smaller. 90 days 
CHINESE RED 
Widely adapted and extensively used in Texas for soil improvement, due to quick growth 
and early maturity. May be combine harvested, and because of early maturity two crops 
are frequently produced in one season. Plants dwarf, erect, of uniform maturity; pods 
small, round, held high. Seed very small, hard, round, pale red to red. 70 days 
IRON 
An old, early established variety, highly resistant to wilt and root-knot disease. Well 
adapted for combine harvesting. Plants upright, semi-bushy, not so prolific in seed yield 
as other sorts; pods held high, seeds small, cream buff to brownish and very hard. 95 days 
NEW ERA (Bluewhip) 
One of the more important commercial hay and soil building sorts. Produces a high seed 
yield. Suitable for combine harvesting. Plants tall, erect, bushy, very prolific; pods held 
high; seed small, buff, uniformly speckled with blue. 80 days 
WHIPPOORWILL 
One of the oldest varieties and most commonly grown for high yield of hay, for grazing 
and soil building. Well adapted to clay soils for early and late planting. Plants tall, vining, 
vigorous; pods long, held high; seed buff-brown and speckled. 90 days 

Cowpeas: Valuable for soil improvement as well as the crop 
