FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL CONVENTION 275 



motion is essential. The distribution of the seed, the depth of 

 covering, and the consequent germination are sure to be more 

 uniform where a drill is used. In Ontario the results of 30 ex- 

 periments throughout the province gave an average increase 

 yield of ly^ bushels to the acre for drill-planted fields over those 

 sown broadcast. 



Inoculation. 



To secure the best results, field peas, like all other legumes, 

 must have upon their roots nodules caused by nitrogen-fixing 

 bacteria. The almost universal use of the pea as a garden vege- 

 table has supplied the soil with the necessary bacteria in nearly 

 all parts of the United States, so that it is seldom necessary co 

 inoculate the soil artificially. In newly developed farming dis- 

 tricts, however, the soil may not contain the necessary bacteria, 

 and in such cases if an examination of the crop shows that the 

 roots are not well noduled it will be found profitable in future 

 plantings to provide the required bacteria. This can be done 

 either through the use of pure cultures, a limited quantity of 

 which can be procured from the United States Department of 

 Agriculture free of charge, or by scattering inoculated soil from 

 fields which have previously grown a crop of inoculated peas. 

 Inoculated soil can usually be obtained from gardens in a vicinity 

 where peas have been grown. This soil should be broadcasted 

 at the rate of 250 to 500 pounds per acre when the ground is be- 

 ing prepared for seeding. Care must be used to cover the soil at 

 once after it is scattered, so that the bacteria will not be destroy- 

 ed by the sunlight. This can be done by following w^ith a harrow 

 immediately after the person who is broadcasting the soil. 



Harvesting for Hay. 



The proper time to cut peas for hay is when most of the 

 pods are well formed, since considerable of the nutrient value of 

 the plant is contained in the seed. When seeded in mixtures 

 with grain, the time of cutting may be governed to some extent 

 by the maturity of the grain, but the varieties of peas and grain 

 used in the mixture should be so chosen that the crop can be bar- 



