LEGUMINOUS PLANTS. 163 



are very liable to attack from the pea-bug, which deposits its 

 egg in the pea while in its green state, where it hatches ; and 

 the worm, by feeding on the pea, diminishes its weight nearly 

 one half. Here it remains through the winter, and comes 

 out as a bug the following season. To avoid this pest, some 

 sow only such seed as has been kept over two years, while 

 others sow as late as the 15th to the 25th of May, which delays 

 the pea till after the period of its attacks, but this latter prac- 

 tice seldom gives a large crop. It may be killed by pouring 

 boiling water upon the seed, stirring for a few minutes, and 

 then draining it off. Peas are sometimes sown in drills, but 

 most usually broadcast, at the rate of two or three bushels 

 per acre. It is better to plow them in, to the depth of three 

 inches, and afterwards roll the ground smooth, to facilitate 

 gathering. When sown in drills, they may be worked by 

 the cultivator, soon after coming up. The growth is pro- 

 moted by steeping the seed for twenty or thirty hours in 

 urine, and then rolling in ashes or plaster. 



Harvesting is accomplished by cutting with the sickle 

 or scythe, or what is more expeditious, when fully ripe so 

 that the roots pull easily, with the horse rake. When thus 

 gathered into heaps and dried, they may be threshed, and 

 the haulm carefully stacked for sheep fodder. If this is se- 

 cured in good condition, cattle and sheep will thrive upon 

 it. Peas are frequently sown with oats, and when thus 

 grown, they may be fed to sheep or horses as harvested or 

 threshed, or made into meal for swine. , 



The Cow or Indian Pea, frequently called the Stock Pea. 

 The Southern Bean would be a more appropriate name for 

 it, as it is grown exclusively in the southern States. It is a 

 desirable crop, either as a fertilizer, or as food for domestic 

 animals. Its long vines and succulent leaves, which draw 

 much of their substance from the air, and its rapid and lux- 

 uriant growth, particularly adapt it to the first object ; while 

 its numerous and well-filled pods, and its great redundancy 

 of stem and leaf, afford large quantities of forage. This is 

 improved for cattle, when harvested before the seed is fully 

 ripe. It is sown broadcast, in drills, or hoed in among corn, 

 when the latter is laid by for the season. If in drills, it may 

 be cultivated in its early stages by the plow, shovel-harrow, 

 or cultivator. It can be cut with the scythe, or drawn to- 

 gether with a heavy iron-toothed harrow, or horse rake, as 

 with the common pea. It requires a dry, mellow soil, and is 

 well suited to clays. 



