254 THE PEA CROP. 



be in a state of minute division, finely pulverized; and 

 that it contains all the food- substances that the growing 

 crop requires. If these conditions are not secured, your 

 crop is diminished accordingly. Some plants, it is true, 

 owing to the difference of their root development, do not 

 require the same depth of soil as others do ; for instance, 

 the barley does not require the same as the wheat (see 

 p. 212), nor the pea as the bean. For all crops, however, 

 it is desirable, though for some it is more necessary than 

 for others. 



In growing peas, where the value of the straw for fodder 

 purposes enters into consideration, manures more rich in 

 organic matter may be used than where they are grown 

 merely for their seed. Farmyard manure, if applied 

 directly to the crop, generally produces a too luxuriant 

 growth of straw ; while Peruvian guano, in the proportion 

 of from 3 to 5 cwts. per acre, according to the condition of 

 the field, is in most soils sufficient to secure a good crop of 

 both straw and seed. Where farmyard manure is used, the 

 addition of superphosphate of lime about 2 to 3 cwts. to 

 the acre is followed by the best results; or even lime itself 

 may be used. In this latter case it is desirable to plough 

 the lime in with the winter furrow, and to apply the dung 

 in a well rotted state at the time of sowing in the spring ; 

 or, better still, to reverse the operation, by ploughing in 

 the fresh manure with the winter furrow, and applying 

 the lime previous to sowing in the spring. The action of 

 the lime would thus be more energetic and effective in 

 a soil charged with rich organic matter. In all cases it 

 must be remembered that lime is a necessary ingredient 

 in soils where peas and beans are to be grown. Gypsum 

 (sulphate of lime) is a very good form to apply it in, if it 

 can be obtained at a suitable price, as the pea requires 

 both lime and sulphuric acid (see analysis, p. 261) to com- 

 plete its processes of growth. It has been affirmed that 



