The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-06-15
Peas for Green Maturing and Stock

Petersburg tVa.l Index-Appeal.I
We have SO often advocated plant
ing the common field pea both 70
stock and as an improvef of land
that some may think it to be one @
our hobbies. But, be that as it NAV
we have unbounded confidence il
its high value for both these uses
and we do not hesitate to place it a
the head of all green crops for fer
/ tilizing worn out Southern land, an6
a place next to corn as forage
crop for stock. We say this know
ing full well the high rank clover
holds IN the affections of nine-tenths
OF the farmers north of latitude 81
degrees, but peas will do what clover
wiilsnot do, they will grow well on
thin soils and in the hot suns and
dry summers of the Middle and
Southern States. These circum-
stances alone make it superior to
clover here, were there nothing else
to recommend it to favor.
But even did clover grow here
with equal facility and certainty MS
the pea plant, the latter would still
be preferable. because far cheaper.
and easier to manage. It takes from
one to two years for clover to get a
good foot hold, even where the soil
is rich enough to grow it. But the
pea plant gets its growth in ninety
days. 1t may be planted the 10th
of June, and by the 10th of Septem-
Der the ripened seed will be dry
enough to SOW again. Furthermore,
1T is a plant that docs very well on
poor land, and it makes little differ
ence how rough the condition of the
ground is it can find earth to grow
in. 1t is admirable as first crop
for new land, makes the soil mellow.
loose, and fine, and seems in some
way to unite mineral and vegetable
matter so as to make both readily
available to growing crops. Glover
wants clean smooth land to start
with, it will not thrive on poor soil,
and it does not take hold of the land |
and refine it like the pea.
Two crops of peas can be grown
on the same ground the same year. |
This, too, in time for wheat or any
other winter grain on the land SO
Fertilized. In fact, it. is the short
period of growth of this crop which
gives it such special value to the
Southern planter. After oats or
wheat have been harvested in June.
t may be sowed to peas, and be
eady for any winter crop that au-
umn. That it is a valuable fertilizer
II experience has shown, and no
ther green crop approaches it in
heapness.
But it is not alone as fertilizer
hat we recommend it SO highly. As
forage plant for cattle, sheep, and
ogs it is likewise superior. Hogs
ltended for bacon the coming win
n may be put on peas in Septem- ,
er, and will get nearly fat enough
IT killing on this feed alone. Many
lrmers fatten their hogs in this way,
wing them only a little corn at the !;
st. The whole seed (pod) fed to !,
leep in winter gives them warmth
nd norishment equal to any other
rage. And even the bulls alone
ter the peas have been threshed :
1T are greedily eaten by sheep, and :
em to do them more good than ?
lything else. For cattle the whole
ne may be cured while in the :
zen state, and housed for use in :
inter. y
As the time is now near at hand
r sowing this important crop, we
ought it not amiss to speak of it :
,ain, lest some, in the hurry and !.
sh of other labors, should forget J
plant it. Every farmer in this
elton ought to grow it. Consid-