126 



PEAS 



planting. They can be planted in hills, or drills, the rows 

 two and a half or three feet apart, according to the 

 streng-th of the soil, and ploughed and hoed like other 

 hoed crops. The time of planting is the same as Indian 

 corn. Hog's dung mixed with ashes, is said to be the 

 best manure for them. The hills should be from four- 

 teen to twenty-four inches apart, according to the soil. 

 They must not l-ie so thick as to preclude the sun and 

 air. Five beans will be sufficient to remain in a hill. 



When about two thirds of the pods are ripe, and be- 

 fore the frosts, pull and spread them in rows ; but they 

 must be turned occasionally at midday, that the damp- 

 ness of the ground may not mould those underneath. 

 After thrashing, if there are any unripe ones which re- 

 quire more drying, spread them on a clear floor, under 

 cover, till they are thoroughly dried. 



White beans will yield from ten to forty bushels to 

 the acre ; twenty bushels is called a good crop. They 

 are valuable for the table and for stock, particularly for 

 sheep and hogs. 



PEAS. 



. Peas, a leguminous crop, is proper to intervene be- 

 tween two calmiferous crops, they are a good prepara- 

 tive crop for grain, as the ground is left mellow, and 

 but little exhausted by them. 



They are best adapted to smooth lands ; as it is some- 

 what difficult to cut the crop on stony grounds. With 

 the aid of gypsum they will grow very well on light 

 sandy lands ; and, generally speaking, they will grow to 

 advantage on almost every soil that is sufficiently dry, 

 and rich, for a good crop of wheat. If the ground be 

 too rich, however, they will run too much to haulm, 

 and yield the less. But the crop, to make it profitable, 

 should be of a luxuriant growth ; and as such will cover 

 the ground more completely, it will, on that account, 

 be in better condition for succeeding crops. 



The allowance of seed when sown broad cast, is fr«m 

 one and a half to three bushels to the acre ; thin soils 

 requiring the greater quantity. When sown too thin, 

 tho plants will lie upon the ground, and perhaps rot : 

 v^hen bey are thick, the plants will hold each other 



