Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-01-09
For the VERMONT FARMER.
PEAS, AS A FIELD CROP.


"DEAR SR:-In late number of the
VERMONT FARMER there was an article from
your pen, | think, in which something was
| said about Peas. Now if you will write an
article for the FARMER on Peas as n Field
| Crop, giving details of culture, &C., you will
| oblige Mt least one reader, and probably ben
eft many more. Yours truly
j. L. READ.
An,herSt, Mass.
In compliance with the accompanying re-
quest Of Mr.. Read | will relate my expe-
rience with peas as a crop. l do not feel
competent to write an article upon the SUBJ
ject that will be interesting to any, even Mr.
r., as | am not acquainted with the analysis
of the grain, and have not raised sufficient
quantity to make any experiment in feeding
Some thirty years ago sowed about two
bushels OF common field peas, on three
fourths acre Of land, at the second plowing
of newish land or when the stumps were
rotten enough to pull or plow out-and har-
vested twenty-sevcn bushels.
Since that time have raised a few bush.
els every year, but cannot give particulars
until,-say three years ago, when put one
aud onc.half bushels on half an acre of
greeusward which had been pastured few
years and plowed six inches deep,-the
quality Of the soil was such as to produce
90 or 60 bushels of oats, or 200 bushels of
potatoes pOr acre, | harvested fourteen
bushels of nice peas, known as back.eyed
marrowfats.
In 1872 raised a very good crop on land
planted with potatoes the year previous and
in good condition usually SOW about two
bushels per acre. The black.eye marrowlats
are very prolific.
The two last seasons have used the
champion of England" in part and like
them very much as being earlier, sweeter for
green and nearly or quite as prolific. If
the land is tolerably smooth and mellow l
prefer to SOW upon the furrow, the seed is
more easily covered but if rough, hard, or
greensward, the land should be melowed
with the harrow before sowing-they are
better not to harrow too much.
Some people sow peas only in the old of
the moon. have always sown when the
soil is in proper condition, same as for any
grain, without regard to signs but would
prefer land of medium quality rather than
very rich when very ricL the vines are
rank and continue to blow throughout the
season, making the harvest late, and the
peas do not cure. The past season it cost
me twice the labor on this account that it
usually takes.
My way is to cut the vines with scythe
when the pods are about two.thirds well
turned, turning them every day or two if
the weather is good, and throw into heaps
they will be fit to go into the barn in 4 to
6 days, and when the machine comes, thrash
same as any grain, only throw a blanket
over the separator to keep from flying. l
never raised mixed crop. The vines are
worth saving for sheep. think the grain
is valuable to mix with other grains and
grind for hogs, cattle or sheep, worth more
than corn for fatting stock, and excellent to
promote the growth of wool, but l would
not feed it without mixing with other grain.
Whether it is profitable grain to raise
must be determined by circumstances, such
as location product and value of other crops,
soil of the right character, &c. &C., which
each producer can decide for himself |
think it pays for me to raise small crop
every year. A. D. ARMS
Montpelier, Dec. %.