74 I'li-'^^ -^^i^ PEA CULTURE 



64, and 64. His results showed that the seeds 

 germinated as well the second year as the first and 

 that a slight decrease in germination occurred dur- 

 ing the third year. In the fourth year the decrease 

 was much more marked. 



The temperature at which pea seed germinates 

 varies somewhat with the type and variety. For 

 instance, smooth peas germinate at a temperature 

 of 80 degrees F, while wrinkled sorts run be- 

 tween 68 and y2. On the smooth sorts vitality is 

 almost destroyed at 90 degrees. 



Supports. — The more productive and tall-growing 

 varieties are given some sort of support in the 

 garden. Various methods are resorted to, including 

 wires strung on posts, poultry netting and brush. 

 As to the advantage of supports Jordan^ speaks of 

 plants trained to woven wire trellis and untrained 

 plants. He concluded that generally the untrained 

 gave a larger percentage of the total yields in first 

 pickings than those trained, but in total yield and 

 weight per plant the trained sorts, with two excep- 

 tions, gave much better results than those untrained. 

 Macoum and Balir^ report it is a decided advantage 

 to provide a support for even half tall varieties of 

 peas, and to plant two rows six inches apart and 

 allowing two feet space to the next row. This was 

 recommended as preferable to a single row two and 

 one-half feet apart, since nearly double the crop is 

 secured. There is more difficulty in hoeing the 

 double rows. Pods from the staked peas were much 

 superior to the unstaked ones. 



Probably the most common method of support is 



'N. J. Exper. Sta. Rpt., 1898. 

 "E. S. R., Vol. 17. 



