226 IRRIGATION FARMING. 



Peas. — This crop may be planted for either grain 

 or forage, and in a general way the handling of the 

 crop is not materially different from that for beans. 

 Planting should be done by the first of April, and un- 

 less the season is an exceptionally dry one, irrigation 

 about the first of July, or just at the blossoming period, 

 is all that is demanded. For grain the peas may be 

 sown in drills, or broadcast. Forty pounds to the acre 

 in the former case and sixty-five in the latter are about 

 right. If broadcasted the seed should be lightly 

 plowed under. For forage growth alone it is best to 

 sow broadcast two and one-half bushels an acre of the 

 smaller Canadian field pea, and three to three and one- 

 half bushels of the Marrowfat. Then cross-plow the 

 seed under not less than four inches deep. Add to 

 these one bushel of oats an acre, and after the seed is 

 well put in mark out the field furrows about the same 

 as for grain. It is always best to irrigate when the 

 peas are in blossom, and then, when they are past the 

 boiling stage and the pods are green enough to dry and 

 hold the grain, cut them with a mowing-machine, 

 throwing each swath out of the way. For hay do not 

 allow the ground to dry, as prolific growth of vine is 

 what is desired. Some years it will take four or five 

 irrigations, while other years three will be found suffi- 

 cient. The great secret in raising pea hay is in curing 

 it. For small crops the best way is to cut the vines 

 with a hand scythe, and let them lay as cut for twenty- 

 four hours; then take a fork and make them into large 

 cocks, which should remain undisturbed for a period of 

 two weeks, by which time they are well cured. Never 

 open them. When they are ready to stack simply turn 



