The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1899-07-27
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THE VALUE OF PEAS.
Interesting Article on This Crop With
Practical sngs -stio.s For Plan,-
ing and tu.:ty.t,n,

Much has been written in. success
sive years concerning the preservation
and upbnilding of rhe farming lands of
the south Necessarily this question
Is one of great Importance, as we
have for years been growing cotton to
the exclusion Of other useful crops
payinGso much attention to what is
called the moneyed crop of the south"
and giving hardly any attention TO the
wear and tear Of our lands. OF necessity
the cultivation Of cotton crop is one of
clean culture, which let's the summer 3
sun and winters rains bleach our lands
Of the elements OF plant food that is
necessary TO the preservation of the
land thus cultivated.
The best informed and the most
| scientific farmers understand that to
| preserve their lands they must fur.
| nish such quantities of plant food
as will replace that which has
been taken from them by the crops
grown during the year. 1t has been
a favorite method to try to repair
the drain upon the land by furnishing to
the crops an artificial plant food COM
monty known as Commercial Fertil-
izers." We are willing to admit that
the use Of these Commercial Fertil.
izers" benefits the growing crops, but as
above stated, the clean culture let's the
summers sun and winters rains bleach
out the remainder, so that we are
Obliged to depend upon artificial means
to give our crops the supply of plant
food necessary for succeeding crops.
Each year requires more and more fer
tilizer per acre in order to supply the
demand made by nature.
| The question arises how can we hope
to keep our lands in high state of Gull
tivation; how can we give in return
more than we have. taken away?
i, Year by year our land degenerates,
and as consequence we become poorer.
What should we do to remedy this evil
and fill our barns?
The only answer is, save what you al
ready have and lay by something for
posterity. This can be done on the
farm to far better advantage than in
most any other profession.
This question must be looked squarely
in the face, as any other business
profession.
My advice to the farmers at this sea-
son Of the year is TO plant peas, not
only for feeding purposes, but as a rem
ovator of their lands
Plant enough peas in your corn for
seed for another year and sow the rest
OF your corn, cat and wheat lands
broadcast for manuring purposes.
Our common peas are mostly an air
plant. They absorb the nitrogen from
the air and deposit the same in their
roots, so that they furnish ammonia for
another season. The vines or woody
matter furnish potash and loam,
as well as prevent the washing
| OF the soil alreaiv made Years OF e:z.
| refirmcs show that this plant not only
reno,ates the land, but is an excellent
for, 20 crop
| Nov rs 20 tine cultivation OF this val.
| liable crop | woali Suggest, for the pur-
! pos" o ra sing seed for another season
| rhr r-a' ne ni,nted in the middle OF
Fhr RVS when you E,v bv your corn
at \" 'nri blowing. When rhe peas are
! an y i,.ncbe, GA t.lke a short scooter
.. nrp-r with an 10 inch sweep and run
on -rn"r side. rnus giving the peas one
| tm7rng Which viii De sufficient as the
| corn wl.i >na q rne ground 20 as TO pre-
ven' inc grass from growing TOO freely.
| VI J Lon a"'ire not to moiesJ your
| corn, taen ~ hen Won cut off your grain
| pant III pas in 3 FOOT rows and cul.
tvs'er,e Won do corn or cotton. Two
| povid.s will mase them. Cattle,
| chem am let yrur vines rot on the
Nr"uni. anus building mp your land and
| ra'neriny enough 10 plant another year
| ami Tor .eeiing purposes.
For manur1ny purposes sow broadcast
IN the rorn when You lay by, also over
the s'nal grain lands, thoroughly break.
ing anne. Sow from Specks to bushei
per acre. Allow the peas TO get thor
(, oughly ripe anu turn same under during
the late fall
nyou desire 10 cut them for hay 1t
should be done when the pea pods be-
| gin TO ripen.
| will write an article later concern.
! ing curing pea hay, as this article is in.
tended only to urge the farmers to see
the necessity of bringing up their lands
and az the same time filling their
barns. If we win only use the means
we have nc hand and work with energy
and patience we can truly make this
the garden spot of the world.
Iadvise the use of the following peas:
The Unknown, the Clay, Red Ripper
and Whippoorwill.
Again let me urge every farmer to
plant largely, and If he can procure. the