Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1897-04-07


will appreciate. At least that is Mr..
Pennock's experience. "In the three
years that / have Deen experimenting
with the plant" he said to the "Globe-
Democrat correspondent, 1.-THE seasons
have not been dry enough for the crop
to require irrigation, though there may
be times when it might prove beneficial.
Too much water know has been hurt
full, as whenever ditch has broken and
flooded the ground the leaves soon
turned yellow and the plants died. A
letter recently received from Iowa,
where l have sent some Of the seeds to
be tested, states that the pea does not
thrive there for the reason that there is
too much rainfall, no peas forming in
the pods. The past season planted
above my ditch on a dry hillside. Not
much attention was paid to them, yet
good crop was grown, the best of any
kind on my place for that year The
plant gathers moisture from the air
apparently sufficient for its needs"
1t will be seen that the Idaho coffee
pea does better in a dry region. 1t
grows better ON unirrigated than on if
rigatei land; better in dry climate
than a moist one. This being true
there should no longer be any dry waste
places on the farm. They can be made
to produce big crops of food superior for
horses, sheep, cattle and hogs withou'
water, thus tightening the calls on the
oat and corn bins.
RIPENING ALL SEASON.
AS the PODS form at the axil of the
leaves, the first formed soon ripen, SC
that there are ripe and green pods and
also blooms at the same time all thro'
the season, and the plants are in bloom
at harvesting time. The pods never
crack, SO none Of the fruit is wasted by
Smelling out, and can be harvested at
leisure. The early autumn frosts do not
stop the growth of the plant or injure
the peas. Harvesting the crop is the
greatest difficulty encountered. It can
be pulled like beans or cut with a now
ing machine, the former method SO far
proving the most satisfactory. Neither
has any satisfactory means CT threshing
the crop been discovered as yet. An
ordinary threshing machine breaks up
the peas badly, though this does not
mir tItoVlo Eos - e.. Al. Il.
ing by hand with fail is tedious job,
as every pod must be broken in order to
liberate the fruit. 1t is possible that a
bean threshcr would do the work In a
more satisfactory manner.
As substitute for coffee it is rich and
nutritious, having richer and better
flavor than ordinary coffee. 1t can be
used freely by invalids and children with
known beneficial effects. 1t is nourish.
ing, but has none of the stimulating
qualities of the coffee of commerce.
Many old coffee drinkers prefer it to Rio
or Java, and many can not tell the diff
ference. It is parched and ground like
other coffee, third less being used
Settled with an egg, with cream and
sugar, it makes delicious drink.
When the valuable properties of thi.
wonderful plant become known and
farmers learn how to produce and har-
vest it to the best advantage it bids fail
to be Of greater value than alfalfa in the
arid regions, as there is probably nc
grain produced in this latitude thai
possesses so many valuable feedine
qualities. 1t is not believed chat it vii
prove success in the Eastern States
but for tits country and portions o
Kansas and Nebraska there is nothing
like it. Mr.. Sands, of Nebraska, who
experimental with the plant last year
in recent letter states: cit will builC
railroads and cities when it becomes
fully known"
The Idaho coffee pea may have been
known for hundreds of years, hut that
does not lessen its value. Mr.. Pennock
is in receipt of reports of tests made ir
Mexico, Montana, Nebraska, Wyoming
Minnesota and other states, all express
sing satisfaction with results in enthu
slastic terms. 1t is easily grown, needs
no ir' igation, and frosts and winds have
no effect upon it. 1t will grow on an
dry hillside and produce more food I,
the acre than any other plant. A bush
ell Of the peas weighs 70 pounds. Cook.
ed like the native garden pea, is a,
equally good for the table and makes
delicious soup. Weevil. grassllopper
and other insects do not disturb or pre- ,
upon il, and, SO far as known, it h as NJ
insect enemies.