CHAPTER VI. 



LEGUMINOUS PLANTS OTHER THAN CLOVER. 



The legumes are a numerous family, and yet 

 the species that have special adaptation to soiling 

 uses are not many. In addition to plants of the 

 clover group, the chief of these are the field pea, the 

 common vetch, the cowpea and the soy bean. The 

 cowpea and the soy bean are in a sense the comple- 

 ments of the field pea and the common vetch, when 

 considered from the standpoint of distribution. 

 These will be considered separately. 



THE FIELD PEA. 



Outside the clover family, the field pea (Pisum 

 sativum) is probably the most valuable legume 

 that is now grown on this continent. The esti- 

 mate thus put upon it is based on the high 

 nitrogen content which it contains, upon the 

 high relative palatability which it possesses and 

 upon the various combinations in which it may 

 be grown. Peas in combination with oats is 

 a favorite soiling food with dairymen, wherever 

 these can be successfully grown together. As a food 

 plant its value is probably greater when grown alone, 

 but owing to the trailing habit of growth which 

 characterizes the pea, it has been found necessary to 

 sow it along with some other plant when used in 

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