54 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



in raising any of these leguminous plants other than clover 

 for cattle feeding. I have never raised peas or beans for 

 that purpose. My business of late years has largely been 

 seed growing, and as a consequence my attention has been 

 more directed to that than to the study of these other 

 things. I have raised clover, and latterly more than I did 

 when I liegan, and I think I have seen the beneficial effects 

 of it in the increased fertility of the farm. 



Mr. B. P. Ware (of Marblehead) . I would like to ask 

 Mr. Sargent whether he has found, in his ten years' experi- 

 ence in growing oats and peas, that they are liable to lodge, 

 and, if so, how often? And also how many seasons his oat 

 crop has been attacked by a fungous growth which caused a 

 blight, if ever? 



Mr. Sargent. I do not think that I have ever seen any 

 blight in the oat crop on my farm. I have grown this crop, 

 as I said, for ten years. My plan has been to plant peas 

 just as early in the spring as possible, harrowing in the seed 

 with a wheel harrow. That is one great point, — to get the 

 peas into the ground early, and get them in deep. If they 

 are put in to a good depth, I think there is very little fear 

 of any blight on the peas. 



Question. What depth? 



Mr. Sargent. Well, as deep as I can get them in with a 

 wheel harrow, — perhaps three inches. I should just as 

 lief put them in four or five inches, but I do not like to 

 plough them in. 



Secretary Sessions. Do you cover the oats and peas 

 together ? 



Mr. Sargent. Yes, sir ; I sow the seed separate, but I 

 cover them together. 



Secretary Sessions. How much seed do you sow? 



Mr. Sargent. I sow two and a half bushels of oats and 

 from one and a half to two bushels of peas to the acre. 



Question. What kind, of soil have you? 



Mr. Sargent. I am like some other gentlemen here. 

 My farm contains three or four difi'erent kinds of soil, per- 

 ha})s more than that. It is hard-])an underneath, and some 

 pretty good loam from five to eight inches in depth. I l^uy 

 my seed of a seed dealer in Boston. I buy the Canada peas, 

 and get as clean seed as I can. 



