(140) 



the planter is more costly than if he would allow time and 

 opportunity for nature to help to manure for him ; whether 

 alone, or still better if aided by preparing for and sowing 

 the native pea, to the production of which your climate is 

 so eminently favorable. All the accumulations of leaves 

 raked from the poor pine forest, with the slight additional 

 value which may be derived from the otherwise profitless 

 maintenance of poor cattle, will supply less of food to plants, 

 and at greater cost, than would be furnished by an unmixed 

 growth of peas, all left to serve as manure. 



" The native or Southern pea, (as it ought to be called), 

 of such general and extensive culture in this and other 

 Southern States, is the most valuable for manuring crops, 

 and also offers peculiar and great advantages as a rotation 

 crop. The seeds (in common with other p< as and beans), 

 are more nutritious, as food for man and beast, than any of 

 the cereal grains. The other parts of the plant furnish the 

 best and most palatable provender for beasts. They may 

 be so well made in your climate, as a secondary growth 

 under corn, that it is never allowed to be a primary crop, or 

 to have entire possession of the land. It will grow well 

 broadcast, and either in that way, or still better if tilled; 

 and is of an admirable and cleansing growth. It is even 

 better than clover as a preparing and manuring crop for 

 wheat. In one or other of the various modes in which the 

 pea- crop may be produced, it may be made to suit well in a 

 rotation with any other crops. Though for a long time I 

 had believed in some of the great advantages of the pea- 

 crop, and had even commenced its cultivation as a manur- 

 ing crop, and on a large scale, it was not until I afterwards 

 saw the culture, growth, and uses in South Carolina, that I 

 learned to estimate its value properly, and perhaps more 

 fully than is done by any who, in this State, avail themselves 

 so largely of some of its benefits. Since, I have made this 

 crop a most important member of my rotation, its culture, 

 as a manuring crop has now become general in my neigh- 



