The Japan Pea. [August, 



resolved into moisture, causes to fall from its leaves a very clear water, 

 and that in such abundance that the cisterns, which are placed at the 

 foot of the tree to receive it, are never empty, but contain enough to 

 supply both man and beast. — Ilendelsle. 



Frriend Miner : — Among the different varieties of seeds I have 

 recently received from the Patent Office, was a new species of pea, 

 called the Japan pea, which has created considerable interest among 

 cultivators here, on account of its prolific qualities, and the ease with 

 which it may be cultivated. As an instance of its great productiveness, 

 I may mention the case of a single plant, cultivated in this neighborhood, 

 which had upon its branches over four hundred pods, the larger portion 

 of which contained from two to three peas, (mostly three,) yielding 

 about one thousand per cent. This, from a single pea, in a single year's 

 growth, is something worthy of notice. If each pea possessed the 

 qualities of reproduction in the same degree, we should have in the 

 second year's growth, nearly half a million of peas. I will leave it to 

 others, (who are perhaps better skilled,) to estimate the number of 

 bushels this would make, and what number of pounds it produces, at 

 sixty pounds to a bushel, the weight of peas and wheat to the bushel 

 being nearly identical. 



This new and rare plant is found well adapted to our soil and climate, 

 and yields bountifully, whether planted on rich or poor soil. It grows 

 from two and a half to three and a half feet high, putting forth long 

 branches, stiff and woody, like a shrub. The leaves are large, resembling 

 those of an ordinary bean, growing in sets of three, with long quadran- 

 gular stems. The flowers, which are small and white, but rather 

 inconspicuous, grow in thick clusters, nearly covering the branches. 

 These are succeeded by downy pods, from one inch to an inch and a 

 half in length, each containing from two to three oval peas. When 

 boiled, the pea is very nutritious in its qualities, and makes an excellent 

 food for man or beast. It should be planted about the usual time of 

 planting corn, in rows from two and a half to three feet apart, one or 

 two in a hill, and cultivate in the same manner. It requires a rather 

 long season to ripen, but will mature its seeds where Indian corn can be 

 grown. 



