PEAS 211 



sary to conserve this moisture in the soil. 

 Shallow culture is always advisable. The 

 roots of the plant come so near the surface 

 of the soil and spread so far that deep cul- 

 tivation will be the cause of great injury. 



Harvesting (Canning). As soon as the 

 pods are ready and the inspector has given 

 the word, the vines are harvested. These 

 may be cut with a scythe if a grower does 

 not have the more modern machinery, or a 

 mowing machine may be used. Where the 

 latter is used, an ordinary hand rake may 

 serve to collect in bunches, and men with 

 forks may follow and place them in a furrow. 

 From this furrow, they are placed in the 

 wagon. If the peas are to be raised in the 

 most modern way for canning purposes, they 

 are harvested with a pea swather. 



This is a special machine having long fin- 

 gered guards to lift the vines. These guards 

 are placed on the cutter bar of a specially 

 constructed mowing machine. The knives 

 of this machine cut the vines, and -if a plat- 

 form is constructed in the rear of this cutter 

 bar, an arrangement of circulating arms, the 

 peas will be left in a swath following the 

 machine. Ten acres per day under favor- 

 able conditions can be harvested by this 



