THE PEA. 193 



The opinion, I believe, generally prevails that the deep- 

 er peas can be sown, the more productive will be the 

 crop, and the longer will it remain in bearing. One and 

 one-half inch is the usual depth in a sandy loam. 



CULTIVATION". 



As the growth of the pea crop extends through the 

 winter and early spring, when weeds are not abundant, 

 cultivation is only, or chiefly, necessary as a promoter of 

 growth. The soil between the ridges may be stirred 

 twice, or more frequently in an unfavorable season; but 

 as soon as the plants grow to two or three inches, the 

 earth should be hoed to the stems, when dry, gradually 

 earthing higher up, as the peas increase in hight. All 

 peas, save the dwarfs, not only fruit better, but continue 

 longer in bearing and mature better, if they are bushed. 

 As soon as they commence to " run " to vine, or to put 

 out their clasping tendrils, which will be when about ten 

 or twelve inches high, according to variety, they should 

 be bushed or stuck. Branching sticks are thrust between 

 the drills so firmly into the ground as not to be blown 

 down, and near enough to be a sapport for all the plants. 

 This will not only be facilitated, if the sticks cross each 

 other in the row near the surface, but they will be a mu- 

 tual support. When the bushes from which the sticks 

 are to be cut are more or less convenient, the expense 

 of this sticking will be from three to five dollars per 

 acre. The first shipments are usually made from Savan- 

 nah about March 10th. The early varieties admit of 

 about five pickings; the later, one or two more; one hun- 

 dred and fifty to two hundred crates being the yield per 

 acre. 



Peas were sold the past season at from one dollar and 

 fifty cents to five dollars and fifty cents per bushel crate, 

 while fifteen years ago I received twenty dollars per barrel 

 on April 5th. 

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