Farm and Garden.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 367, 21 May 1903, Page 7

Farm and Garden.

ORIGINAL ARTICLES. GROWING COWPBAS. W&F clover cannot be grown some other flffi % 00 & leguminous crop is needed jǤ; that will act as a soil renovator to fix in the soil the atmospheric nitrogen and, at the same time, furnish a forage crop rich in protein and the muscle forming ingredients. It is considered, 'that this is obtained in the cowpea; therefore the cowpea will take the place of the clover plant, if for some reason the latter cannot be grown. As a soil improver the cowpea is buperior to clover, and that 'is generally recognised by all who .have had anything to do with the two plants. The cowpeas will grow on a much poorer soil. Thetwocrops have been tried side by side. On poor soil, where clover would jn_ot grow at all, cowpeas would product from one to two tons per acre. The cowpeas will produce a forage growth always equal, if not greater than clover yields. A a to, their feeding value the cowpea is superior, as shown by analysis, which proves that cowpeas not only contain the largest quantity of. digestible nutriments, but they contain nearly .forty per cent, more digestible protein. That is of very great importance in feeding farm animals.

, Some farmers use cowpea hay asa substitute for, bran and obtain as good results. On soils that are very wet and cold cowpeas Will not prove satisfactory. But if the soil is reasonably warm and not saturated with water they will grow luxuriantly even on poor ground. The soil should be prepared as one would for any other crop—a good seedbed, well, ploughed and harrowed, ; and the "soil'' mellow and fine. On old worn out soils the plough should be run no deeper than four or five inches. The rest of the preparation may be similar to that 'for corn. The application of. manure will show its effects on cowpoas j if that is not practicable, and the aoil is-very poor, then use a small application of chemical fertilisers. If one intends to follow the pea with winter wheat, it would be proper to use, the wheat fertiliser on the pea crop before sowing them. Their increased growth will add more nitrogen to the soil, a fertiliser carrying nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash on the majority of old soils will be the most satisfactory. The following ia suggested: ••-!•••• '- : - Nitrate of soda, one hundred pounds, muriate, of potash fifty pounds, and acid phosphate one hundred pounds. ,i ■ .t»l This quantity will not be too heavy- on Very light and poor soils that wheat follows. Better Soils may be given a smaller application or none at all. The .fertiliser?, should be scattered broadcast over the field and harrowed in, * The great secret in sowing cowpeas'is TS6t to put them in the ground before the'soil is ciry and warm, it is possible r to harvest; a wheat crop, sow to cowpeas immediately' after, then; harvest the cowpeas;for hay, and follow with wheat ap"ain.v4 The ,cow«> pea may .be. drilled and cultivated, like corn, or broadcasted, andrharrQwed,-in,,, : The seed drill can he it breaks many of the seed. %Qa rich soils, if broad*, casted, the quantify of seed should be about one and a acre. Jtf • less than this quantity, ,the stems will grow too largo andjhard to cure 1 well into hay. About a bushel per acre on thin lands will .prove a good seeding, and it would be best to sow in rows and cultivate. ' I v'' ;i\ '■'■ '■'■■?.;-

The best results have baea obtained with Whip-Poor- Will alad the extra eatly variety. The latter will ripen in sixty days from the sowing, while the former will require a very -.lifctle longer Either variety under ordinary conditions ". will mature sufficiently for making good quality hay. The greatest difficulty in ithe culture of the cowpea lies in harvesting arid curing the'erop. liiko clover, this is no easy thing to do and obtain, a good grade of hay; but<if .one can core clover, one can cure cowpea hay. The prop may bej cut with the mowing machine and left in the field for a day; then the tedder may be used the following morning and given a good Btirring, and towards evening it may be put up in good si&ed cocks and left for three days. The cocks are then opened and. spread out to dry in the sun, and'that evening stacked and stored. In that state many farmers'. are using it as feed to. take the place of - bran for horses! and cattle, milch cows, and.young steeri They eat every,portion of it; includiagj *he coarse sterna, and Seem to regard it as relishing food.' The cowpea will provj a blessing to farming people. • '

Said a conscientious auctioneer: 'Ladies and gentlemen,, there is no sham. about tbese carpets. They are genuine tapestry carpets, j I bought them from old; U Tapestry himself,' Auritio: Bobbie Brown i 8 a bad boy j he is always being whipped., BiSabal: Yes; he says ha belongs to the smart set. " r; . 'I regret exceedingly the .insult burled •: by 'my parrot at Mr , and withdraw the same unreservedly,' eta'ee an advertisement published in a German newspuper. i Johnnie went to school for the first time the other day, and there being no desk 'for him the master told him to 'sit on the; '•• fror.t seat for the present.' "■ .„, He was given I some slight attention during the day, but when school was dismissed still clung to his seat. :\ . ' Well, Johnnie,' said.the master,' aren't you going home?' i ■ • *. 'Yes, sir/ the boy replied, ' bul I'm waiting for the present, I want to take it home.'