INTRODUCTION. Ixxv 



In 1850 there were raised in the United States 9,219,901 bushels of peas and beans. The 

 amount was not given in the census of 1840. In I860 there were raised 15,061,995 bushels, showing 

 an increase of over 50 per cent. 



II ud the crops been returned separately it would have been more interesting. Though belonging 

 to the same botanical order, (Leguminosee,) and of quite similar chemical composition, the crops are 

 raised practically for very different objects. Beans are grown principally as food for man, while the 

 pea is cultivated principally as food for animals on the farms, or for ploughing under as a green crop 

 Jbr manure. 



With the exception of flax-seed and decorticated cotton-seed, peas and beans contain more nitrogen 

 than any other grain. The droppings of animals fed on peas and beans are consequently more valuable 

 than that from animals fed on any other grain. 



The growth of these crops when fed out on the farm increases its fertility more than any other 

 grain crop. When consumed on the farm, and the manure returned to the land, or when ploughed under 

 as a manure, peas may be considered as a renovating crop. As a crop to alternate with wheat, peas 

 are exceedingly useful. They tax the soil but lightly, and when a heavy crop is produced they smother 

 the weeds. They also ripen early enough to afford ample time to sow wheat after the peas are harvested. 



To a certain extent these remarks are applicable to beans. Their cultivation is rapidly extending 

 in the wheat-growing districts. They can be planted late in the season, and yet can be harvested in 

 time to allow the land to be sown to wheat. Being planted in rows, the land can be horsehoed and 

 the soil cleaned and pulverized almost as well as if summer-fallowed. 



The following table shows the amount of peas and beans raised in the New England States in 

 1860 as compared with 1850 : 



I860. 1850. 



Connecticut 25, 864 19, 090 



Maine 240, 915 205, 541 



Massachusetts 45, 246 43, 709 



New Hampshire 79, 454 70, 856 



Rhode Island 7, 698 . 6, 846 



Vermont 70, 654 104, C49 



475,831 450,691 



Except in Vermont, the crop of peas and beans has increased in all the New England States since 1850. 



Maine raises more peas and beans than all the other New England States. The total of these two 

 crops in New England is less than half a million bushels. 



The following table shows the amount of peas and beans raised in the middle States in 1860 as 

 compared with 1850 : 



I860. 1850. 



New York 1, 609, 339 741, 546 



New Jersey 27, 674 14, 174 



Pennsylvania 123, 090 55, 231 



Maryland 34, 407 12, 816 



Delaware 7, 438 4, 120 



District of Columbia , . 3, 749 7, 754 



1,805,697 835,641 



New York raises eight-ninths of all the peas and beans produced in the middle States. The crop 

 in this State has more than doubled since 1850. 



