474 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



Cultivation and Harvesting. Peas will grow on almost any soil, but will produce 

 the largest crops on lands that are rich. No stable manure should ever be used for this crop 

 except it has been previously fermented or rotted, either by being composted or plowed 

 under for a previous crop. &quot;When well-rotted, it is one of the very best fertilizers for peas, 

 but when used before the fermenting process has taken place, it has a tendency to increase 

 the growth of the vines, and diminish the quantity and quality of the product. 



The ground should be well pulverized by plowing and harrowing before sowing the 

 seed. The peas are sown both broadcast and in drills. When the former method is prac 

 ticed, from two to three bushels are required per acre; for drill-planting, from five to six 

 pecks per acre are generally used. They should be covered to the depth of three or four 

 inches; consequently a light plow or cultivator is better for this purpose than a harrow. In 

 either case, the ground should be afterwards rolled to press the soil upon the seed and make 

 the surface even. An even surface renders the processof harvesting much easier than where 

 the ground is left in ridges. 



Peas are not easily injured by the frost, consequently may be sown early in the spring 

 and as soon as the ground is dry. &quot;When sown later, or in dry weather, they should be 

 covered deeper than when it is done early in the season. Some farmers cover to the depth 

 of five inches. A deep covering enables the crop to better withstand a drouth. Early sowing 

 admits of harvesting the crop in time to plow the land for wheat. Soaking the seed for 

 twenty-four hours in tepid water before sowing, hastens germination. 



It was formerly the practice with farmers to sow peas with oats; but this is not to 

 be recommended, as the two crops do not ripen at the same time, and the oat stalks are not 

 sufficiently strong to support the vines. They are sometimes sown in corn-fields, by being 

 drilled in between the rows of corn. They are by this method liable to be unduly shaded by 

 the heavier growth of corn. 



&quot;When a succession of crops for soiling are wanted through the season, peas may be sown 

 in April as soon as the ground is dry, and at intervals every three or four weeks. At the 

 North, the earliest varieties are sown in April or May, and the later in June, the latter being 

 the more general practice, unless more than one crop is desired. When sown in drills, the 

 soil may be worked with the horse-hoe or cultivator soon after they are out of the ground. 



When cultivated for green fodder, they can be cut at any time after being half -grown 

 until the pods are ripe. When peas are the object of cultivation, they should not be 

 harvested until nearly ripe. They may then be cut with a scythe, dried in the field, and 

 afterwards threshed. The haulm or straw furnishes excellent fodder for sheep and cattle. 

 When fully ripe so that their roots may be easily pulled, they are sometimes harvested with 

 a horse-rake, and left in heaps to dry. The cow-pea may be harvested in the same manner; 

 but when the growth is very heavy, an iron-tooth harrow is sometimes used. Swine and 

 cattle are frequently turned into the field to eat the crop, but this practice is not to be 

 recommended unless it is designed to turn it under as a fertilizer, as quite as much would be 

 wasted as eaten, by being trampled into the ground. 



