The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-03-16

Southern Field Pea.

OF all the varieties of beans,
there are none more valuable
than most of those known in the
south under the misnomer "Field
Pea" OF these there are many va
rieties. A variety with rather
small yield of vine, but an abun-
dant yield of small white seed,
which whether green or dry, when
cooked affords delicious, tender
dish. Another white variety with
larger seed and more vine is also an
excellent article for the dinner Ia
BILE, but not so nice as the former
The "Whippoorwill'' with larger
notified seeds of early growth, and
may be moved several times; OF
when few seed mature the whole
may be plowed under aud soon an
other crop covers the ground.
The red ripper. black. cow pea
and Others yield heavy crop OF
seed and hay. They should always
be sown among the cora, broadcast
or drilled each side of the corn row
at the last working. / always pre-
fer laying by corn as early as posi-
BILE in May; both for a better corn
crop and for obtaining a heavier
growth Of the pea vines. Peas
sown in June rarely yield half so
much vine and leaf as those planted
in May. Those planted in July
grow hut a few inches high.
l plant rather for the leaf and
vine, of which / wish the largest
possible growth both above and IN
the ground; the root to release and
bring up potash, lime and phospC-
rous from the deeper subsoil and
render the latter frIable; the vines
and leaves to shade as densely as
possible at the time, (July, August
and September,) when the earth so
shaded absorbs with most avidity
fertilizers from the atmosphere in
addition to the quantity assimilated
by the plant itself.
These field peas should be sown
on all stubble lands also, as soon as
the grain is moved, either broad
cast or plowed under; or il seed be
scarce, drilled in every fourth or
fifth furrow. In the latter case they
may be cultivated. By thus follow
ing the crops of grain with peas the
land may be continually improved.
After single good crop of peas,
even when moved or pastured off,
/ am confident | have seen the yield
of the next cotton crop increased
fifty or one hundred per cent. on
clay soils.
AS food crop they cannot be
too highly priced; they, like small
grain and grasses, require no labor
except sowing and harvesting. A
hand will pick as many pounds OF
peas as of cotton in 81 given time.
Peas rarely sell for less than one
dollar per bushel, often for more
and as during the current year the
purchaser sometimes pays three
dollars per bushel. They are cheap
at the highest price for fertilizing
alone. Every one should save at
least seed for his own next years
planting.
In some parts of the country, peas
are very often much damaged by
the pea weevil, or bug. This may
be obviated by letting them remain
in the pod till ready TO use; or when
well dry by threshing on dry dusty
ground and gathering up dust with
The seed. Ii threshed by machin-
cry, dust or ashes may be supplied
while putting in sacks, barrels or
Gins. Any air tight package will
prevent insect degradation. But if
put in air tight packages, they must
be free from moisture.
A serious objection to keeping in
pod till ready to plant is that in the
spring when the air becomes warm,
the pods are infested with numer-
Gus mites. When animal or person
then touches the pods, the mites at
tack the intruder, penetrate the
skin and produce an intolerable itch
ing that will sometimes render per
sons or animals frantic with pain.
For feeding during the cool
months, much prefer them in The
pod. If improperly fed. however,
to a hungry animal, he may become
choked; if free from hull, he will
eat too rapidly and will have the
collie. An animal that is to have a
feed of dry peas should first be
watered, then take a handful OF
pods, giving him one at time; aft, r
which there is no further danger.
Peas should yield as many bush
els as corn on the same land if
properly planted, cost much less to
produce and always sell for more.
Or again; on two plats of land OF
the same quality planted in cotton
and peas the crop of peas will pay
many times more than the cotton
in proportion to expense OF produc-
ton.
Now a few words as to pea vine
hay. This IS not difficult TO cut
with the hoe or scythe If in drills;
now with a good mower if broad
cast. 1t is easily raked into long |
piles or large rounded ones, with
the horse rake OF proper construc-
Jon. 1t requires, 1T Is true, more
line and care to cure well than
grass; packing loosely, 1t is more
bulky and difficult to hardle. Yet
t is highly relished by all live stock
md is worth much more than all
he labor and expense of saving.
When sufficiently dry it must be
protected b. roof sufficient to
urn the ram. IL may be housed in
all pens with rails for open floor a
cot above ground and others every .
ew feet above; or in houses with
ails, stats or poles above ground
nd six to twelve inches apart for
, to rest on and then poles through
t intervals. In this way it may be
nred in fine condition though
oused when but half dry. Venti-
tors may be made by mailing to-
ether three or four four planks to
'rm 8 tube extending from the
)or upwards as high as necessary. :
fter filling the house, these tubes q
ay be withdrawn for use in n
other place.
1t should have been mentioned I'll
at meas fed in the nod are excel ~