Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-06-23
AND
! CANNING ONE
! VEGETABLE
!; ON A 5000
): ACRE FAR NJ

A 3,O00-acre farm devoted exclusive
ly to the production of ordinary gar
den peas illustrates the proportions
in which agricultural pursuits are
carried on in sections of the west,
and suggests possibilities for the
south along this line. The farm re-
ferred to is described by w. Frank
Mcclure, in the current issue of
American Exporter, as follows:
Longmont, Col, is the pea-growit4g
center of the world. Planted in 5000
acre beds, harvested by machinery,
canned at the rate of 10000 cans
per hour and sometimes shipped in en-
tire trainloads, this has now become
one of the most interesting agricul-
tural industries extant. In one in
from the caboose and locomotive, la
den with nothing but canned peas
was sent from Longmont to the east
Incidentally, it may be noted that
the raising of peas is typical of the
enormous scale upon which many agri-
cultural pursuits are carried on in
the western States. 1t is not unusual
for one farm to cover as much. ground
as an eastern city of $4,000 popula-
ton, and the annual payroll on one
farm sometimes amounts to 100000
One hundred acre beds of asparagus
and 80 acres of currants have been
recorded in recent years.
The altitude of Longmont, it be-
ing a mile above sea level, was some
years ago found especially suited to
peas. This fact established, the idea
suggested itself: Why not raise them
on vast scale? This meant especial
ly built machinery for handling and
canning, but each requirement was
fglly met.
After the ground has been prepar-
ed, peas are sown in the vast beds
like so much wheat In fact wheat
drills are used in the operation. When
the vines are half loot high cur
tivator of the kind used in cultivat-
ing corn is run between the rows
and the earth thrown up about the
stalks, thus leaving irrigating chan
nels. These channels connect with
large irrigation ditch through which
the water is conducted from the noun
tain streamers--a kind of irrigation
splendidly suited to the cultivation
of the pea.
In order that the crops will not all
mature at once only certain num-
Der of acres are planted in one day.
The harvesting then takes places in
the order of this planting. The crop
is cut by moving machines, which
sever the vines just through the
ground. Men with pftchfolks follow
the moving machines and load the
vines onto rigging provided for a
two-horse wagon, and when the load
is all on and the journey is started
to the factory, from short distance
it is not easy to distinguish it from
so much hay.
From the wagons, some of which
carry 5000 pounds, the peas at the
cannery are stuffed into the end of
large revolving cylinder at the rate
of so tons an hour A revolving in
ner cylinder, equipped for the pur-
pose, screws he vines through the
larger cylinder. wherein they are
soon brought in contact with me-
chanism which serves to break the
pods open The severity of the treat
ment of the unopened pods increases
as the vines and pods travel on
through the cylinder until the pods
are opened
From this point the vines are auto
matically conveyed to stacks. They
are used as cattle food and are ship
ped in great quantities to the cattle
feeding quarters of Denver. These
vines make excellent ensilage In
fact in some countries peas are rails
ed in a small way for feeding stock.
While the vines go to the stacks,
the peas at this great cannery are
conducted to a vat of running wat
er, in which all stems and leaves
come quickly to the surface and are
easily removed The good peas, af-
ter passing through further clean
ing and being automatically divided
into their various sizes, go into cylin-
ders which revolve in water. The
broken or otherwise imperfect peas
are next removed by force of girls
seated on both sides of a belt, on
which the peas are carried before
them for their inspection. Filling ma
chimes next measue out just the right
quantity into each can to be filled.
Girls put the lids into place as the
cans are automatically brought under
the machines and filed. Each filing
machine fills twelve cans at one time.
The lids are soldered in place by
machines which solder at the rate
of 10000 lids day, the filled cans
go into iron rotors, where the peas are
cooked in the cans by means OF steam.
The plan of doing every possible
portion OF the work by machinery is
continued even to labelling machine,
which performs its work to the tune
of q 900 cans a day. From the time
they are planted till they are placed
upon the market it may be said that
practically not human hand touches
the peas.
BEET GREENS.