MISCELLANEOUS PLANTS. 221 



are slow in becoming established, but in soils adapted 

 to their growth they will live for many years, 

 although American experience has not yet determined 

 how many, unless in states where the winters are too 

 cold for growing it successfully. Though it stands 

 the winters of southern Ontario it cannot be de- 

 pended upon to endure those of northern Minnesota. 



The seed is more commonly sown in rows from 

 thirty to thirty-six inches apart, and in sowing the 

 same the aim is to have the plants only a few inches 

 apart in the row. The seed germinates slowly. 

 When this fact is linked with the slow growth the 

 plants make the first season, the necessity for clean 

 cultivation during that period of the development 

 will be apparent. The plants gradually extend so 

 as to occupy all the ground. In some areas they 

 produce seed but shyly, more especially where the 

 rainfall is abundant and the growth of the crop is 

 vigorous. 



That the flat pea will ever be extensively grown 

 as a producer of soiling food in the northern states 

 and in the middle states east of the Mississippi river 

 is at least problematical, and for the following 

 reasons: i, The plants do not usually produce 

 a full crop until the third year from the time of 

 planting, and the seed is likely to be dear for several 

 years to come; 2, other crops can be grown 

 more easily, that are quite as productive of forage, 

 that are more easily handled and that are more 

 highly relished by live stock; 3, the lack of 

 palatability which experimenters complain of will 

 tell against the introduction of the plant, but this 

 may be overcome in part at least by persistent 



