Der Landbote, a German agricultural publication, states that a 

 plantation of flat pea affords excellent "standing mast" for pigs, 

 and the flowers of the Lathyrus are much frequented by bees, the 

 hone}^ from this source being exceptionally fine. 



CULTIVATION. 



German authorities recommend that the flat pea should be first 

 planted in the seed bed, from which the young vines are transplanted 

 to the locations where it is desired they finally should grow. It is 

 estimated about 30,000 plants are needed for an acre. In a country 

 so rich in forage plants as the United States, and especially where 

 the methods practiced are so difi^erent from what they are in Euro- 

 pean countries, this manner of procedure is not likely to be followed. 

 More economical and expeditious methods must be sought. One 

 method recommended is that of planting the seeds in drills 15-20 

 inches apart, burying the seed to the deepth of 3 inches, deeper if the 

 soil is very sandy and the region dr}^, or less deep in heavy soils. 

 The land should be prepared for receiving this crop the same as for 

 wheat or corn, although it is claimed that the flat pea will grow in 

 regions or in soils where these crops will not succeed. The young 

 plants usually come to the surface within three weeks from planting 

 and during the first season make a small growth, 10 or 12 inches 

 perhaps. The land during this season should be kept free from 

 weeds and the vines cultivated. The second year the growth is more 

 vigorous and during the third year the plants attain their full size. 

 In the Gulf States the vegetation is perennial, but in the latitude of 

 Washington the plants die down in the winter, although they are 

 quite resistant to frost and are slow in starting in spring. Their 

 heaviest growth appears to be during the months of July and Au- 

 gust, and at this season the vines make a dense mat, completely cov- 

 ering the ground, often to the depth of 3 or -4 feet. This tangled 

 mass of vines is cut with difficulty and must be mown with a scythe 

 or cut with a sickle. The vines, when cut, dry out readily and the 

 making of the hay is a simple matter, 



CHEMICAL ANALYSIS. 



The analysis of the air-dried hay at the Michigan Agricultural 

 Experiment Station is as follows : 



Per cent. 



Water .. 7.99 



Crude ash 8.32 



Ether extract, fat, etc 3. 08 



Crude fiber, wooded matter 36. 70 



Nitrogen, free extract, starch, sugar, etc 27. 74 



Crude protem 27. 17 



100. 00 



