No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 291 



to the canner as the "Eailj June" peas. They are planted as early 

 in the spring as the weather will permit. The peas may be 

 planted in drills to permit surface cultivation or sown 

 broadcast. The latter method, however, is successful only 

 with certain rich soils and the dwarf varieties of peas. The quantity 

 of seeds required to plant an acre by the drill method is about 2^ 

 bushels and by the broad cast method from 3 to 4 bushels. 



The vines are cut when they are yet green, before the oldest pods 

 have begun to shrivel and delivered at the factory. The grower is 

 entitled to the pea vines after the hulling. The pea being a legu- 

 minous plant a "nitrogen gatherer," the refuse tops are a valuable fer- 

 tilizer, and if plowed under or composted with the manure heap they 

 are worth many times over the cost of taking them home. 



It has been said the peas that are taken from the vines by the re- 

 markable machinery called the Viner, then cleaned by passing 

 through the cleaner, then graded into four or five sizes for the cans, 

 must show a uniform size of peas to pass as properly packed 

 goods. The smaller sizes command the best prices. The peas are 

 then "blanched" by scalding them in wire or perforated iroo baskets. 

 This treatment cleans and heats the peas through, after which they 

 are delivered to a machine that fills the cans with peas and brine 

 ready for capping. After effectually sealing the cans they are 

 processed in the closed kettle at 240 degrees Fahrenheit for fifteen to 

 twenty-five minutes according to the condition of the peas whether 

 young or old. After the cans are cooled they are ready for the pack- 

 ing house where labeling and casing is done. 



Peas are put up in 2 pound cans at a cost of about seventy cents 

 per dozen. 



BEANS, STRING. 



A large quantity of string beans are canned by factories fitted up 

 for packing peas and corn. The varieties chiefly planted are Early 

 Valentine, Early Mohawk and Black Wax. The yield varies greatly, 

 but for fair land with good cultivation it may be estimated at 100 

 bushels per acre, for which the canner will pay about thirty cents 

 per bushel. String beans are prepared for the can much as peas are, 

 the eods and ''strings" are removed and the large pods broken in 

 two. The product is then blanched as described for peas, packed 

 in 2 pound cans, filled with hot brine, capped and tipped. Process- 

 ing takes place in the closed kettle at a temperature of 240 degrees 

 Fahrenheit for fortv minutes. 



