149S The Vegetable Industry in New York State 



Genung may be used, the peas being planted at certain depths 

 and certain distances being utilized between rows. Sometimes 

 the gardener will plant the seed by hand, first opening the furrow 

 with a hoe and dropping the seed in this furrow, covering and 

 pressing the soil over the seed. This is a good method where the 

 garden is small. 



BROADCASTING 



The principal objection to broadcasting is the fact that poor 

 soil preparation and insufficient covering is generally given, re- 

 sulting in smaller yields. 



CULTIVATION 



Where the pea crop is grown for canning, no cultivation is 

 given. Therefore, the preparation of the land should be most 

 thorough. In the market garden, cultivation should begin early 

 and should be frequent; in fact, some men think it advisable to 

 pass through the crop at least every five days. This would be a 

 good practice for the home gardener. The pea crop requires 

 about four hundred and seventy-seven pounds of water to produce 

 one pound of dry matter. It is, therefore, very evident that cul- 

 tivation is necessary to conserve moisture in the soil. Shallow 

 culture is always advisable. The roots of the plant come so near 

 the surface of the soil and spread so far that deep cultivation will 

 be the cause of great injury. 



Where tall sorts of peas are to be grown, some support is nec- 

 essary. Such support may be given by the use of brush or chicken 

 wire, or a trellis made with strings. For practical purposes, the 

 chicken wire seems to be the best. Canning peas are nut given 

 support. The home or market garden may include tall sorts. 



HARVESTING 



As soon as the pods are ready and the inspector has given the 

 word, the vines should be harvested. They may be cut with a 

 scythe or a mowing machine. Where the latter is used, an ordi- 

 nary hand rake may be used to collect these, and men with forks 

 may follow and place them in a windrow. From this windrow 

 they are placed in the wagon. The peas may be harvested with 

 a swather, a tool particularly adapted for work on large areas. 



