IO6 FORAGE CROPS. 



other grain to furnish pasture for sheep and swine. 

 The peas improve the quality of the pasture because 

 of the rich flesh-forming and milk-producing food 

 which they furnish. But when thus grown it should 

 be on lands with special adaptation for growing the 

 peas, otherwise the cereal grown along with the peas 

 is likely to crowd them. Such pastures are not. so 

 well adapted for being grazed down by horses and 

 cattle, because of the greater injury which they cause 

 the peas through treading. But it is when sown 

 alone that peas are more commonly grown as a pas- 

 ture for swine. This chapter will consider only the 

 growing of peas for pasture, although it may be 

 mentioned here that the process of growing peas for 

 swine forage is essentially the same as when grow- 

 ing them for the grain. 



Distribution. Peas usually succeed best in a 

 cool and also in a moist climate in which the summer 

 temperatures are not extreme in their variations and 

 where the nights are cool. But a moderately cool 

 and even temperature is more important relatively 

 than moisture in the air, otherwise certain of the 

 Montana and other Rocky mountain valleys would 

 not be able to grow peas with and without irrigation 

 according to the locality, and in such magnificent 

 form. Hot and dry climates are ill adapted to the 

 growing of peas, and more especially where winds 

 hot and dry are apt to prevail at that season of the 

 year when the peas are coming into bloom. At such 

 a time intense heat of the sun or the warm breath of 

 continued hot winds would hinder the blossoms from 

 producing pods and grain in the perfection of devel- 

 opment, and if sufficiently prolonged the vines would 

 shrivel and wither without fruiting at all. 



