14 



PEAS AND BEANS. 



Field pea {Pisum arvense L.). — Four lots of field peas were sown May 39. All 

 were imported seed (S. P. I. No. 1173 and Nos. 1485, 1486, and 1487) from France 

 and Russia. Only a thin stand was obtained, and while they did not appear 

 affected by the drought, their growth was always slow. The vines finally 

 attained a length of 18 inches to 2 feet and most of them flowered, but none 

 ripened any seed. All died in the latter part of September. Many of them 

 were affected by downy mildew. 



Bitter flatpea {Lathyrus sativuslj.) .—Threei)la,ts (10-D-10tol2) were planted 

 on May 28 and two plats (lO-E-13 and 14) on May 29 with Russian seed (S. P. 

 I. 1175). The plants came up promptly and grew vigorously during the sum- 

 mer. The plants were 16 to 20 inches high by the end of July, with an abun- 

 dance of flowers and some full-grown pods. By October 1 they were nearly all 

 dead and the seed ripe. 



This species has not been cultivated in this country to any extent, because the 

 seeds contain an alkaloid which is said to be poisonous. It would probably be 

 of some value in the Southwest. 



Chicharaca {Lathyrus tingitanus L.). — Plat 9-D-13 was seeded on May 28 

 with seed from Algeria (S. P. I. No. 3289). Only a thin stand was secured, but 

 the growth was very rapid. The plants were unaffected by the heat and drought 

 and reached a length of 3 to 4 feet by the end of the season. They produced 

 numerous flowers during July, but no seeds set and the pods did not develop. 

 On November 15 the vines were still green and healthy in spite of several severe 

 frosts. This species closely resembles the bitter flat pea, but grew much larger. 

 It has not heretofore been cultivated in this country. It was introduced from 

 Algeria, where it is used as a winter forage, and is said to be free from the poi- 

 sonous proi)erties found in so many of the flat peas. It is cultivated in the 

 Canary Islands and Morocco also, and is said to be hardy in Southern France 

 where exposed to a temperature of 26° F. 



Winter flat pea {Lathyrus deer L.). — Two plats (lO-D-14 and 15) were planted 

 on May 28 with seed from France (S. P. I. No. 1459). On June 5 a good stand 

 appeared. By the middle of July the plants were 5 to 6 inches high and some- 

 what bui'ned. Toward the end of the month they revived a little and made 

 some new growth, but produced no flowers, and later died. It is used in Ger- 

 many and France as an early spring forage. 



Everlasting flat pea {Lathyrus sylvestris L.). — Two plats (lO-D-3 and 4)were 

 planted on May 28 with Russian seed (S. P. I. No. 2802), and a half plat (10-D-6a) 

 with French seed (S. P. I. No. 1460). Both lots came up thinly and grew slowly 

 but steadily, reaching a height of about 16 inches by October 15. On November 

 1 6 they were still fresh and green after several heavy frosts. 



Improved everlasting flat pea (L. sylvestris wagneri). — Seed from France (S. 

 P. I. No. 1461) was l^sed in planting a half plat (10-D-6&). In growth and 

 appearence it did not differ from the above. This plant has been widely praised 

 as a valuable forage during recent years ; but, it must be said, that experiments 

 in various parts of this country do not establish its claim. 



G-ray milk-pea {Galactia canescens Benth.). — Ahalf plat (10-G-2a) was planted 

 May 31. The seed did not germinate until June 19, and then the growth was 

 quite slow. On July 15 the seedlings were 3 inches high and bush-like in habit. 

 By August 3 the twining branches were 6 to 8 inches long ; September 20 their 

 length had increased to 1 or 1+ feet, and a few flowers were out. On the 16th of 

 October the fruit was well set and the plants still fresh. By the middle of 

 November the plants had succumbed to the frosts without ripening more than 

 a small part of the seed. It is native to the dry region from Texas westward, 

 and for that part of the country should be valuable. 



