302 THE CULTURE OF FARM CROPS. 



upon the soil. This effect of peas however is inferior to that 

 of clover because they leave a much less quantity of refuse 

 matter as roots and stubble in the soil; but the dense 

 shade afforded by the plants, and the nitrogenous character 

 of what remains upon the soil, of their refuse; leave it in 

 a favorable condition for a succeeding crop. Wheat follow- 

 ing peas, usually succeeds much better than it does after 

 oats or corn, or even after a fallow, and this rotation is a 

 favorite one where peas are largely grown, as in Canada, 

 where they make a substitute for corn. 



Peas leave the soil very clean and mellow; their dense 

 shade preventing the growth of weeds, and keeping the 

 ground moist. The seed (1 bushels per acre) is sown early 

 in the spring, and as it is difficult to cover them with the 

 common spike tooth harrow, it is better to cover them with 

 the plow or the cultivator, or the Acme harrow, which is 

 better than either, and equal to both together. The seed 

 should be covered at least 3 inches deep. In some locali- 

 ties this crop is grown for sale green, in the town or city 

 markets, \\ith much profit. In this case the seed is sown 

 in drills 12 or 20 inches apart; or in two double drills 8 

 inches apart, with spaces of two feet between each two drills, 

 to give room for working the ground. 



This is an excellent feeding crop; the grain and the 

 vines being both exceedingly nutritious, the grain contain- 

 ing 22 o per cent, of albuminoids, and 52 2 per cent, of car- 

 bonaceous matter. The former consists largely of a nitro- 

 genous substance called legumin, which is almost precisely 

 the same as caseine of milk in composition and character, 

 and so much so, that a very good cheese is made from peas 

 by the Chinese. The straw contains 62 per cent, of albumi- 

 noids, (timothy hay contains 9? per cent.) and 35 T per cent, 

 of carbonaceous matter; (timothy hay has 48 f per cent, 

 of it). 



Cow PEAS are extensively grown in the South for fod- 

 der, and for a green manuring crop; and are of much value 

 in both ways. This plant however is not a pea, but a va- 

 riety of bean; it is however included under the subhead of 



