Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-07-19
The farm aud fireside.
PLANT PEAS.

Were our farmers in the habit of preparing
their oat land as we'll as they do their cotton
land, we would feel sure that the past light
harvesting had barely paid the expenses of
preparation ; but usually the oat crop is thrown
in as that much extra, and making much or
little, is, in majority of instances, considered
Just so much gain. After a while we will
learn that this crop deserves more attention,
and the more care bestowed upon it the bet
ter it remunerates the farmer.
There may be, however, many of our read.
ers who sowed their oats in good lnnd, and
who prepared the land thoroughly before
sowing the grain. Such men feel that they
have not been repaid by the light crop just
harvested To all such men we say, you need
not grumble, for there is ample time to get a
fine net income from that very land if you
have time to cultivate it. The recent contin'
ued rains have prepared the stubble fields
beautifully for second crop, and nothing will
pay better now than peas.
The speckled pea, known as the whippoor.
will, and the shiney pea will make crop if
planted 5y the middle or last of July, if it
gets seasons in due time after it is up. The
COW pea will mature if sown by the first OF
July, and the red stock pea will grow an
abundance of forage if it does not mature be-
fore frost.
Now if the grass is pushing the cotton
planter, (and doubtless they all now wish the
day was forty-eight hours long,) he will not
have the time to prepare the stubble land
thoroughly before planting his peas, and,
therefore, must "hit lick and promise" 30
he should simply run scooter burrows about
thirty inches apart, drop four or five peas ev-
cry foot, and cover with two scooter burrows.
If the ground is in good season, the crop will
be up and ready for working before the sea-
son is out of the ground. The middes
C'bawks") should then be broken out by deep
and close ploughing, and ten days after the
crop should be carefully hoed. AS soon as
the grass begins to show itself after that, two
sweep furrows should be run between the rows
of peas. Possibly the crop may need three
burrows. At any rate, it should be left clean,
for this is the "laying by" working. If the
seasons prove favorable, the growth of the
crop will astonish the planter.
Some farmers prefer sowing peas broadcast
We do not. To SOW broadcast requires too
much ploughing, just at the time when it is
difficult to spare the teams from the summer
crops long enough to lay off the burrows and
cover the seed. And broadcast sowing will
seldom produce as much forage, and rarely
ever as many peas as the drilled culture.
If it is proposed to convert this crop into
"rougbage," that is provender for stock, the
vines should be cut with grass blade just
when the first peas begin to ripen and before
the whole crop is ripe. If the peas are to be
picked, or if the crop is to be given to hogs,
the peas should not be picked nor the hogs
turned on the crop till the peas are all ripe.
If the crop is t. be turned under as manu-
ring, the plough should be started just when
and before the leaves begin to drop of. Ex-
cept crab grass, nothing is more difficult to
turn under with plough than pea-vines. and
the best plough for the purpose we have ever
used, even on level land, is the hillside turn.
ing plough.
Just how much forage an acre of peas and
pea-viues, cultivated as above, will make, we
cannot tell but we believe 1t will winter a
mule very comfortably. For this reason an
extra effort should be made to put in this crop.
1t will handsomely repay the farmer, and per.
haps prevent his taking odd trips to the depot
for bought corn next spring.
If any farmer has an acre or more of good
land that was in eats, and has 10 peas, let
him at once break up that lano with sharp
scooters, wait week and cross plough it, and
then harrow, brush or drag it until thoroughly
pulverized and smooth, and then await l,sults.
1t will grow him ton or ton and hall ct
excellent hay.-Ne,us and Courier.