LEGUMES FOB FORAGE AND GRAIN 319 



may be grown farther north than most legumes and at the 

 same time they add a large amount of nitrogen and humus 

 to the soil, although they have but a short period of 

 growth. 



325. Cultural methods. — The field peas are hardy 

 and vigorous growers, and do not require a very 

 fine or well-prepared seed bed. The seeding is some- 

 times done by sowing them broadcast on the ground 

 before plowing and covering them by shallow plowing. 

 Better results, however, are obtained if the seed bed is 

 first prepared and the seed drilled in with the grain drill. 

 When seeded alone, from 2 to 3| bushels, depending upon 

 the size of the peas, are required per acre. More often, 

 however, they are seeded with oats, from one to two 

 bushels of peas with 1 to I5 of oats making a desirable 

 combination. Field peas are cool weather plants, the 

 seeds germinating at low temperature, and for best results, 

 seeding should be done early in the spring, usually as soon 

 as the ground may be prepared. 



326. Harvesting. — When grown for hay, the peas 

 should be cut when in full bloom, but if grown with oats, 

 the cutting should be done when the oat grains are in 

 the dough stage. The peas, when grown alone, are 

 rather difficult to cure, but when grown with oats, this 

 difficulty is largely overcome. The best quality of hay 

 may be obtained if it is cured in the cock, as are soy beans 

 or cowpeas. When grown with oats, from 2 to 3 tons of 

 hay may be expected per acre. 



When grown for grain, the harvesting may best be done 

 with a mower equipped with a side delivery attachment or 

 a self-rake. The grain may be thrashed with a grain 

 thrasher, if the concaves are removed and the machines 

 run at a low rate of speed. The yield of grain varies 



