CsU5 
 

205 
 
 U5 
 
 y 1 
 
 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
 
 •I 
 
 Department Circular 119. 
 
 Bureau of Plant Industry 
 
 (New and Hare Seed Distribution), 
 
 WM. A. TAYLOR, Chief. 
 
 COWPEAS. 
 
 Oh.iect of the DisTBmuTioN. — The (Ustrihution of new and rare seeds has for 
 
 its uhJtM't tlio (lisst'iiiiiiation of new and rare crops, improved strains of staple 
 crops, and hiixh-irradt' seed of crops new to sectiniis where the data of the 
 Departnieiil indicaU- sii<li crops to i)e of considerable pmniise. Kach package 
 contains a snllicieiil t|uaiitity for ji iireliniinaiy trial, and where it is at all 
 practicable the reeipient is nrjred to use the seed for the pro<lucti<»n of stocks for 
 future plantinjrs. It is believed that if this jiractice is followed consistently it 
 will result in a material im|irovement in the crops of the country. Please make 
 a full report on the inclosed blank reiiardinir the ivsults you obtain with the 
 seed. 
 
 DESCRIPTION. 
 
 Tlie cowpea {Vi(/na sinvit.':>is) is a strong- <ri"()winor annual legume, 
 \aiving in form and habit of growth with the variety*, soil, moisture, 
 and cultural conditions. It has long occiii)ie(l an important place in 
 southern agriculture, being grown extensively for forage and green 
 manure. As a green-manure crop the cowpea not only greatly in- 
 creases the supply of humus and nitrogen in the soil, but improves the 
 mechanical condition of the soil. The feeding value of cowpea hay has 
 long been recognized, as it has been used for all kinds of stock in the 
 cowpea region. Cowpeas for hay production are very advantageously 
 grown in mixture with sorglnmis, soy beans, Johnson grass, or Sudan 
 grass. When grown with sorghum or corn in cultivated rows, an 
 excellent ensilage, easily handled, is obtained. As a pasture plant the 
 cowpea is especially valuable, for with the proper selection of varieties 
 grazing can be had from early sunnner until late fall. The cowpea 
 can be i)r()fitably grown in rotation with other crops. In the Sotith- 
 ern States the cowpea is quite generally and favorably known as a 
 table pea. being used in the jxid. shelled green and shelled dried. 
 
 ADAPTATION. 
 
 Although the cowpea is esi)ecially ada})ted to southern conditions, 
 the introduction of early varieties has made its cultivation profitable 
 as far north as Connecticut. Ohio, and Iowa. The cowpea will grow 
 on all types of well-drained soil, thriving better on poorer soils than 
 any other legume. Sandj' and loam soils tend to hasten maturity anil 
 are mo.st suitable for seed production, while the heavier soils produce 
 more foraire. 
 
 INOCl'LATION. 
 
 Natural inoculation for tlii' cowpea oc<'urs ([uite generally tiirough- 
 'iit the cowpea region. TIowe\cr. in isolated sections and in the 
 
 180971° — 20 
 
2 Department Circular 119, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 
 
 Western and Northern States, where the crop has not been previously 
 grown, some difficulty due to lack of inoculation may be expected. 
 Inoculation may be most certainly secured by using soil from an old 
 cowpea field, using from 300 to 500 pounds of soil to the acre or 
 dusting the seed with some of this soil. 
 
 CULTURE. * 
 
 To obtain the best results, the seed bed for cowpeas should receive 
 as thorough ^preparation as land for corn. Seeding should be done 
 when the soil is warm and not too wet, as the seed will then germinate 
 very readily. As a green-manure crop the cowpea may be sown as 
 late as midsummer. Cowpeas may be sown in rows or broadcasted, 
 depending upon the purpose for which the crop is grown. For the 
 production of seed, planting in rows from 24 to 36 inches apart is 
 the best method, Avhile for forage or soil improvement a broadcasted 
 or drilled crop is preferable. When planted in rows, from 20 to 30 
 pounds of seed to the acre are required ; and if broadcasted or drilled, 
 60 to 90 pounds to the acre should be used. Thin planting is recom- 
 mended in regions of light rainfall, and comparatively thick planting 
 where there is ample moisture. The ordinary grain drill (covering 
 the feed cups not in use), the corn planter, or the cotton planter may 
 be used in row plantings. Cultivation should begin as soon as the 
 plants appear above the ground. The crop should receive at least 
 tliree cultivations. 
 
 . HARVESTING. 
 
 For hay, cowpeas should be cut at the time the first pods begin to 
 ripen. A^Tiere seed i3 desired, cutting should be delayed until one- 
 half or more of the pods are mature. In harvesting for seed produc- 
 tion the mower with a bunching attachment gives excellent results, 
 and the self-rake reaper can be used to advantage. 
 
 THRASHING. 
 
 Thrashing may be done very satisfactoril}^ with the ordinary grain 
 thrasher, provided a few adjustments are made. The cylinder should 
 be run at a low and an even speed, while the rest of the machine 
 should be run as usual. Suitable screens should be provided and some 
 of the concaves removed. Special pea and bean separators are now 
 on the market and do excellent work. Where the area is small and 
 the peas are picked by hand, a cowpea huller can be used to advan- 
 tage. 
 
 SEED. 
 
 Cowpea seed is subject to attack by the pea weevil and is often 
 considerably damaged in storage by this insect. By treating the 
 stored peas frequently with carbon bisulphid, the weevil can be held 
 in check. Seed properly stored and kept free from weevil attack will 
 retain its ability to germinate for several years. 
 
5^ ^0 5" Cowpcas. a 
 
 • C.'6 M ^ VARIETIES. 
 
 Although there are a large number of varieties of cowpeas known, 
 comparatively few are of prime importance. Some of the extensively 
 cultivated varieties are grown under various names in different sec- 
 tions of the country. The varieties of cowpeas are distinguished 
 most readily by the color and size of the seed, though they differ in 
 habit, maturity, disease resistance, etc. The use to be made of the 
 crop should determine to a large extent the variety to be selected. 
 For forage purposes the most desirable varieties are those having a 
 fairly upright habit and large growth, holding their leaves well and 
 producing an abundance of pods. The late vining varieties are rather 
 poor in seed production. For table use, the varieties with white or 
 nearly white seeds are preferred. 
 
 Following are brief notes concerning the more important varieties: 
 
 Whippoorwill. — A good general-purpose variety and the one most 
 commonly grown. It is medium maturing, vigorous, fairly erect, 
 and suitable for grain or hay production, or for both. On soils of 
 medium fertility it produces its best yields of seed, Avhile on richer 
 soils it tends to run to forage. The seed is mottled chocolate on a buff 
 or reddish ground color. 
 
 A^eio Era. — One of the most erect of the cowpeas, and about two 
 weeks earlier than WliippoorAvill. It usually produces a heavier 
 yield of seed than the AMiippoorwill, but less vine growth. The seed 
 is small and bluish in color, owing to the many minute specks on a 
 gray ground. 
 
 Gro'd. — A variet}'" very similar to and often confused with the Xew 
 Era. It is a hybrid between the Xew Era and "\^liippoorwill. The 
 Groit is superior to both "^he Xew Era and "NMiippoorwill, as it makes 
 a larger growth and fruits more heavily. ^Vn important factor is the 
 persisting of the leaves on the Groit when the pods are mature. It 
 is one of the most promising for forage and for seed production. The 
 seed is quite similar to that of the Xew Era, but has chocolate mark- 
 ings in addition to the blue specks. 
 
 Brahham. — A hybrid between the Iron and AMiippoorwill varie- 
 ties. It is quite similar in growth to the '\"\liippoorwill but is later, 
 a trifle more vin}'^, and holds its leaves better on ripening. The Brab- 
 ham is especially adapted to sandy soils, to the semiarid regions, 
 and to sections where wilt and nematodes are prevalent, being highly 
 resistant to both of these troubles. Xot only can it be grown to ad- 
 vantage for forage, but it gives a good yield of seed. The seed is 
 smaller but of the same markings as the A\niippoorwill. 
 
 Iron. — A medium late-nuituring variety, yielding well in both for- 
 age and seed. It is highly resistant to wilt and nematodes, and is 
 therefore adapted to the same regions as the Brabham, although it is 
 a valuable vsiriety under nearly nil eondition.-. The buff or clay- 
 colored seed is hard and i-etains its \ itality bi'tler than most varieties. 
 
i-j.BKHr(T ur k<unuKt:>:^ 
 
 4 Department Circular 119, U. S. Dept. of . 
 
 Early Buff. — A neAv variety especially adapted "ji^'^;^";^^^ 
 tions, iiiatiu'ing the first pods in about 65 da^'s. It lias an erect, 
 bushy habit, and is very prolific. The Early Buff should prove to 
 be a most suitable forage and seed variety for the Northern States 
 where two sununer months are free from severe frosts. 
 
 Buff Catjany. — The Catjang cowpea is a sjiecies with numerous 
 varieties which have much in common with the ordinary cowpea. 
 This variety has an erect, bushy habit and is very prolific. Experi- 
 ments throughout the cowpea region show it to be of promise for 
 forage and seed production. 
 
 Victor. — A cross originated by the United States Department of 
 Agriculture between the Groit and Brabham varieties. It has the 
 tall habit of the Brabham variety and has given better yields of 
 forage and seed than either of the parents. The Victor is valuable 
 for both forage and seed, and it is highly resistant to wilt and 
 nematodes. Seeds small, of the Brabham shape, buff, marl)led with 
 brown, and sprinkled with minute blue sjDecks. 
 
 GROUP NAMES. 
 
 Several varietal names, such as Clay, Blackeye, Black, and Eed 
 Ripper are best considered group names, as each of these terms may 
 include a number of different varieties or strains. The term Clay 
 is commercially applied to a group of varieties with buff-colored 
 seeds; the medium-late varieties are termed Claj^, while the late 
 varieties are laiown as Unknown or Wonderful. The name Black is 
 generally applied' to any black-seeded noncrowder variety. Black 
 cowpeas belong mainl}' to two varieties. Early Black or Congo and 
 Black, the Earlv Black being 10 davs later and having larger seeds. 
 The Red Ripper includes most of the cowpeas with maroon kidney- 
 shaped seeds. A large number of varieties of cowpeas with black 
 eyes are known under the name Blacke^'e, being most commonlv used 
 for table purposes. 
 
 SUGGESTIONS. 
 
 A more extensiA^e use of the cowpea at the present time is no doubt 
 retarded by the higli price of seed. Localities adaj^ted to the produc- 
 tion of cowpea seed would find it i:)rofitable to produce seed on a large 
 scale, availing themselves of all the best machinery for handling the 
 crop. Cowpea seed can be produced most abundantly on sandy or 
 sandj'^-loam soils of moderate fertility. 
 
 PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 Farmers' Bulletins 318, " CoAvpeas,'' and 5.^9, "Use of Corn, Kafir, 
 and Cowpeas in the Home," giving quite complete information con- 
 cerning the cultui'e and uses of the cowpea, are available for free 
 distribution on api)lication to the Secretary of AgricuUure, "Wasli- 
 ington, D. C. 
 
 June 8, 1020. 
 
 WASniNinD.N : (;iiV!:i!XME.\'r PRINT! XG OFFICE : 1920 
 
C 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESi 
 
 HoUinger Corp. 
 pH 8.5