OTHER LEGUMINOUS PLANTS. I07 



of conditions not the same. Where the rainfall is 

 normal and the soil is strongly impregnated with 

 clay, the seed of the peas and oat may be mixed and 

 deposited together by the grain drill. In such soils 

 three inches would seem to be a sufficient covering. 

 But in the black loams of the prairie, and especially 

 in the absence of a plentiful supply of moisture, it 

 would seem to be necessary to plant the peas more 

 deeply. This necessity probably has given rise to the 

 practice somewhat common in prairie areas of first 

 sowing the peas on unplowed land and then burying 

 them four inches, and even more than that, in the 

 process of plowing the ground. The oats are then 

 sown in some instances as soon as practicable, and 

 in other instances several days later than the first 

 sowing, and they are buried less deeply. The second 

 method is usually preferable. When sod lands 

 have been plowed in the autumn, or in the early 

 spring, and when the furrow slices have been made 

 narrow rather than wide, and laid at an angle of 

 about forty-five degrees, the seed may be broadcasted 

 by hand and simply harrowed in. It will fall 

 between the crests of the furrow slices, and the har- 

 row, when used properly, levels these and conse- 

 quently buries the seed sufficiently. But peas should 

 never be sown thus on level surfaces, as the shallow 

 covering given to them by the harrow will be washed 

 off in a considerable degree by the first shower 

 that falls. 



The varieties of peas best adapted to soiling 

 uses cannot be named, since different conditions call 

 for different varieties. Usually those kinds that are 

 fine rather than coarse in stem are to be preferred. 



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