49 6 



and lightly harrowed in, from three pecks to a bushel (fifty pounds) 

 being ample. The Japanese is the most prolific and earliest variety, 

 yielding from thirty to forty bushels per acre. The grain is 

 excellent feed for poultry. 



FIELD PEAS. Leguminous plants such as peas and beans play 

 a most important part in agronomic economy. Their exact 

 functions and value are fully explained in the part of the GUIDE 

 devoted to manures and manuring, and need not be dilated upon 

 here, where it is sufficient to say that they add nitrogen to the soil, 

 the most valuable and the most expensive constituent to supply by 

 artificial means, and should find a place in the rotation of every farm 

 where it is possible to grow them. There are several varieties of field 

 pea on the market, those in most general use being the clun and the blue 

 kinds. A stiffish loam is the soil the pea likes best, but it will thrive 

 on almost any class of soil, stiff clay excepted, if well cultivated and 

 provided with an adequate amount of moisture and nutriment. An 

 ordinary ploughing is sufficient preparation prior to sowing the 

 seed, at the rate of from two to three bushels per acre. The harrow 

 and roller should follow. It is a good plan to sow a few oats with 

 the peas if they are to be harvested and not ploughed in, as the 

 oat stalks keep them upright and in a better position for reaping. 

 If left to get nearly ripe the pea vines may be harvested with a 

 horse rake. It is not necessary to say that pea vines are a most 

 nutritive fodder for all classes of stock, almost as nutritive as the 

 pulse. The fodder may be fed just as it is, or the pulse may be first 

 thrashed out. . Pigs should be turned on the stubble to glean what- 

 ever peas have been knocked out in harvesting, and will fatten 

 rapidly. Peas may be sown in the south-west at any time of the 

 year, and in the drier districts in June and July. 



YI-TCHKS OK TAKM-.S. This is another leguminous plant, valuable 

 as a soil restorer, and also for fodder. Barley tares, peas and rape 

 make an excellent mixture for the silo. Tares are usually sown 

 with the gercal crops at the rate'of from ^ to i. 1 , bushels per acre. 

 The crops should be cut green or ploughed in, "as the land is soon 

 apt to get foul. Green tares are excellent food for milch cows. 



BKANS. This is a most important leguminous crop in the 

 northern hemisphere, but very little grown in Australia. Beans 

 grow well in a variety of soils, and there is no reason why the crop 

 should not enter more largely than it does into the rural economy 

 of tlu- tanners of the southern hemisphere. A thorough ploughing is 

 the only preliminary preparation required for the crop, unless 

 manure has to be added to the soil. The seed should be sown 

 thickly in drills three feet apart, the seeds four or live inches apart 

 in the rows ; from 2.J to 3 bushels (no Ibs.) will give an acre of 

 tick beans. Subsequent cultivation should consist in horse hoeing 

 and keeping the ground free from weeds and the surface well 

 broken up. When the leaves begin to shrivel, and the pods to 

 turn, the crop should be harvested by pulling up the plants and 



