, 1905-06-29
OUR BRIGHT PROSPECTS.

Siieiaple l u say III IeldllOn 10 inc ldlS
ing and feeding of field peas III his
valley. 1t has urged the matter be
cause it has felt that the Laramie
plains are peculiarly adapted to the
raising Of this splendid forage plant.
Tests already mad have proved it and
the experience of others at high alti,
tudes have amounted to a conclusive
demonstration that our soil and cit
mate are suitable to the best results.
Not long since The Republican ask
ed the department OF agriculture Iur
such literature as it might have upon
the subject. a small bulletin was a.
that time sent, with the advice that a
bulletin was in press and would be for
warded as soon as out. We are now
in receipt of Farmers Bulletin No.
224, entitled, Canadian Field Peas.
The author. Mr.. Thomas Shaw, is
very enthusiastic over the outlook for
the raising of peas in the mountain
states and the 16 pages of his bulletin
80 i'Il'NS viii IA NV llillpIt
He tells of the various uses of the pea
crop, why it has been neglected, the
areas adapted to pea culture III the
United States, the adaptability OF soils,
its place in rotation, preparation OF the
land, sowing of the seed, varieties to
SOW, harvesting. how grown for fat
fapjnp nf Shn.p md Inp,Hs ,,n rho.
people of this valley are perhaps more
interested i'll the f%attening OF lambs
h other animals, hence his article
will only refer to that particular use of
the field pea.
Mr.. Shaw has made a study of the
operations at the San Luis valley in
Colorado. and says:
During recent years a large area of
peas has been grown in the San Luis
valley, Colorado, on which sheep and
lambs-particularly the latter-are be
ing 1attened without harvesting the
crop. In other words, the peas are
harvested by the sheep. This valley
has an elevation of 1000 feet above the
sea and the season for growth in it is
very short. The temperature is so
cool, especially after nightlaIl, that
light frosts occur some seasons during
every month of the summer Peas
were sown for a time in the valley to
furnish hay, but now they are grown
almost exclusively to furnish material
for fattening sheep. In 1901, $4,000
sheep and lambs were thus fattcned
in the valley. On the crop of 1904 it
Is estimated that zoe, 900 have thus
been made ready for the market. 1t
is further estimated hat this valley has
a capacity for f%attening 1000, 900 head
annually. II is more thar probable
that the entire valley will be virtually
devoted to the growing OF peas within
the next few years.
The pea are sown in the early
spring OF ground prepared by blowing
or disking. The varieties sown are
known locally as the Mexican and the
Canada field pea. The former is more
early in maturing than the latter. The
peas are sown with an ordinary grain
drill and from 40 to so pounds are
sown per acre, along with a small guam
tity of wheat or oats. These are sown
chiefly to furnish supper, to the pea
crop, and the seed is mixed before
sowing. Sometimes one irrigation is
given, but more commonly the crop is
not irrigated. The unirrigated crops re-
ceive moisture chiefly from subterran,
a sources, as the water table under
much of the area Of the valley is not
far from the surface.
sheep and lambs are brought in
from the ranges and turned in TO craze
upon the crop as soon as it Is ripe. The
vine and grain are thus consumed
where they grew. From seventy to
ninety days will suffice t. put lambs
in the finest possible condition for the
market. A somewhat longer period is
required for ewes that are lean when
first tu~"ed in to Craze. Lambs will
make about 5 pounds of increase per
month while thus being grazrd, and a
good crop of peas will fatJen from 10
to Is lambs per acre.
In no other way a sheep and
lambs be fitted for the market at so
small an outlay, except by finishing
them on Dwarf Essex rape. Finishing
on rape is sometimes attended with
loss from bloating, but his danger is
not present when finishing on Oeas
The pea, being a nitrogen gatherer,
leaves the ground in better condition
as to fertility than rape; hence, where
the conditions are suitable. it is with
out a rival, all things considered, in
preparing sheep for the market. The
favorable conditions are a suitable
loan soil such as is usually found in
the western valleys, an altitude suf-
icient to furnish a cool summer eli
mate, ground moisture in sufficient
quantity and ear enough the surface
to sustain the crop. or, in its absence,
%irrigating waters, and a dry season in
which to Craze down the crop. While |
all these conditions are important. that |
AIMED last is Indispensable, as to at