The Orangeburg democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1879-1881, 1879-04-25
The Pea as a Fertilizer

| Editor Ordngeburg Democrat;
| TO convince the generality Of farm
crs of the value of the Pea as Fcrli-
lizer with arguments is a difficult mat
ter. Facts and figures are something
Insufficient. ! would refer those who
doubt 10 DR.. Ravencl's experiments
on coast lands. [ saw those crops in
April. They promised what the Doc
tor published they yielded. Also to
DR.. Wiley's, who resides in one ofthe
upper counties. l have it from n re.
liable soulee that he gathered 1O5
husllcls of oats per acre. IF this is
not sufficient to convince the most ir-
credulous, / have but one more argu-
ment to offer, that is the present
growing crop Of oats of"J. G. H." Of
the Fork Of Edisto. If you doubt,
come, see and be satisfied. From
what have written, / think farmers
can see the Importance Of giving some
attention to the cultivation of peas.
They usually treat peas, rs Lazarus
at the rich mans gate. In my last
promised to give my mode of cult-
vation. [ always give my peas in
stubble lands,a good green manuring,,
which consider Of great advantage.
My neighbors wiliuliy or negIigenlIy
deprive themselves Of this advantage,
by sowing Immediately after harvest
ling their small grain. Il great mis-
take, in not only losing the ammonia
contained in the green weeds and
grass, and Carbonic acid, natures
great solvent, and one and half
months pasturage for pigs and calves,
but also the most opportune time of
sowing, an important item in the
cultivation Of peas. Peas do not
thrive well in cold, damp soils but
grow prodigiously in hot soils, with
sultry weather when there is sutli-
cheney Of plant food. always ferti.
lize my small grain crop, because it
pays 100 per cent. in the yield, and
hastens the growth of grass and weeds
for q green manuring. Showery
weather. in.July, consider the most
advantageous time to. SOW TO osecure n
good and early stand anl vigorous
growth. Here is another decided adj
vantage to the farmer he uses his
plow, when it cannot be probably
employed in the cultivation of his
other crops. ! planted last season,
the last Monday in July after heavy
rain, and in three week Time my peas
had the complete possession Of the
soil, ovcrrunning and choking out all
the grass and weeds that sprnng up
l showed them to several men of ex.
perieuce, in September and October
who said they neverjhad seen better
thought it almost impossible tc
plough them under in fact my feel
imgs would not admit OF it. SO
pasturcd four milch COWS and twenty
pigs for one month to render it plow
able. My oat crop proved that there
is virtue in pea vines, / apply fou>
or five horse loads of straw enc
leaves per acre TO my peas planted il
my corn fields. MIR. Farmer this i:
a progressive idea, which l claim te
/: be the father of. Try it and you Wi!
not regret it. TO prove my faith, il
peas | cultivated 100 acres of land il
the different crops, ON GO acres o
which peas was sown. Next year:
crop IS acres shall grow peas. Dr.
Barton has demonstrated to nay salts
faction that peas can be successfully
cultivated with cotton, not to its dc
triment. Tiu,y, Mr. Editor, this is
progressive step. / shall plant p
acres in cotton this season. L bcliev,
the plants will mutually aid oacl
other. l must close without finish
ing, Mr.. Editor. Remember you
promise. j. e. II. ;,
Spelling for Fight.
-T,,o HoS G&o,;o. EEFr .sliE