PEAS AND PEA-LIKE PLANTS 455 



flowers are solitary and either white or blue ; the pods are 

 4-5 seeded; the seeds are easily distinguished by being 

 wedge shaped. There are probably ten or more varieties, 

 distinguished most easily by the color of the flower and 

 the size and color of the seeds. The latter may be yellow, 

 brown or variously marbled and speckled. 



The grass-pea does not grow as tall as the field pea, 

 but in yield of hay and grain it compares favorably, . Its 

 value lies mainly in the fact that its seeds are never at- 

 tacked by the pea-weevil and seed crops can therefore be 

 grown where weevils are too numerous for the field pea. 



In America they have been grown mainly in Ontario, 

 but in small trials have been found to succeed in Iowa, 

 Texas, Washington and California, and probably will 

 thrive wherever the garden pea can be grown. At the 

 Ontario Agricultural College, a variety with white flowers 

 and yellow seeds has been extensively tested and has 

 given good results except in the cold wet seasons. The 

 average acre yield of seed for 7 years up to 1902 was 25.7 

 bushels and the maximum 43 bushels, yields but slightly 

 smaller than the best field peas. The average yield of 

 straw was 2.2 tons to an acre, as against 1.6 .tons for the 

 Golden Vine pea. Grass-peas and common vetch were 

 also tested in comparison during 5 years, the average 

 green yield of the former being 6.7 tons to an acre 

 against 6.8 tons for the latter. In another series of 

 tests the average yield to an acre of green fodder was 

 grass-peas, 10 tons ; common vetch, 8.93 tons ; and 

 hairy vetch, 8.65 tons. More recent experience with 

 grass-peas has been less favorable. 



The seeds of grass-peas have about the same feeding 

 value as field peas. A bushel weighs 64 pounds. 



