CHAPTER XIX 

 PEAS AND PEA-LIKE PLANTS 



PEAS are grown more extensively for the seed than for 

 the herbage. In mixed cultures, however, especially with 

 oats, peas make an excellent quality of hay. The seeds 

 are valuable both for human food and as feed for 

 domestic animals. In contrast with the various kinds of 

 beans, peas never cause digestive disturbances. 



PEA (Pisum sativum) 



530. Botany and history of the pea. The pea is 

 native to the Mediterranean region of southern Europe 

 and north Africa, extending eastward to the Himalayas. 

 Its culture is in all probability very ancient, seeds having 

 been found in the remains of the lake dwellings in Switzer- 

 land. De Candolle, who considers the field pea distinct 

 from the garden pea, inclines to the belief that the culture 

 of the former is not ancient. 



It is customary to distinguish agriculturally between 

 the garden pea (Pisum hortense) and the field or Can- 

 ada pea (Pisum -arvense), but whatever distinguishing 

 characteristics are used, there are all possible intergrades 

 in the long series of cultivated varieties. In general the 

 term field pea is restricted to those having somewhat angled, 

 brown to black or marbled or speckled seeds, and colored 

 flowers; garden pea, to those having white flowers and 



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