270 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



astrous to the crop only when they occur just at the period when 

 the pods are setting. These cHmatic requirements of the field 

 pea limit its successful production as a summer crop to the 

 Northern States and Canada and to high altitudes in the moun- 

 tains of our Western States. It may, however, be grown with 

 profit as a winter crop in the Southern States. Its moisture re- 

 quirements are less important than those of temperature, but, 

 other things being equal, it does best where the rainfall is fairly 

 abundant. A 15-inch rainfall in western Canada is sufficient to 

 produced a good crop, while 20 inches of rain in Kansas, Nebras- 

 ka, or Colorado are inadequate. 



Soil Adaptations. 



Long experience with the field pea has indicated that clay 

 loams of limestone formation are best suited to its ciillure. As 

 is the case with most other legumes, the field pea thrives best in 

 a calcareous soil. Where the soil is not of limestone formation 

 it is c'dvantageous to add lime frequently. Tne field pea also 

 does fairly well on fandy loam soils, but on loose, light sands the 

 growth is usually small end the crop suffers quickly in periods 

 of ch-ought. Heavy, black soils rich ^'n humus tend to produce a 

 heavy growth of vines but comparatively few pods. One may 

 expect a large tonnage of hay on such soils and a small seed 

 yield. 



Good drainage is essential for success with the field pea. It 

 grows well on moist soils, but will not succeed in locations where 

 standing water occurs or where the soil is habitually soggy. Ex- 

 periments in Wyoming indicate that soils strong in alkali are dis- 

 astrous to the crop. 



Varieties. 



The variety of field pea grown in any region depends pri- 

 maril}^ upon its adaptation to soil and climatic conditions and to 

 the object for which the crop is being grown, but local prejudice 

 and the availability of seed peas also afTect the choice. The best 

 general-purpose pea and the one most widely known is the Gold- 

 en Vine. vShort descriptions of the principal varieties follow : 



