The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-09-27
FARM
of the Soil for Planting

When the field peas follow a crop
of grain, the soil should be plowed
If possible in the fall, in order that
it may be in good condition for seed
ing early in the spring. The soil
should be prepared for sowing the
peas in the same way as sowing for
a grain crop.
Method of Planting the Seed
Field pea seed will terminate and
grow best if planted at a depth of
about two inches The seed is some
times sown broadcast and narrowed
in. This is not a very satisfactory
method of sowing, particularly If the
surface of the soil is dry, as many of
the seeds will be covered at such a
slight depth that they will not germ
mate. The best way to SOW field
peas is to use an ordinary grain drill
set so that the seed will be covered
with about two inches or even more
of soil.
When field peas are planted with
grain drill a portion of the seed
becomes cracked or broken, but in
planting ordinary varieties there will
be no appreciate loss from this
cause. The drill can be easily regu-
lated to SOW the proper quantity of
seed per acre. 1t has been found by
trial at Pullman that when the drill
used on the experiment station farm
was regulated the same as it would
be to SOW oats at the rate of six
pecks per acre, it planted the Kaiser
variety, which has comparatively
large seeds lat the rate of from about
eighty-seven to eighty-nine pounds
per acre. When the drill was regu-
lated to SOW oats at the rate of five
pecks per acre it planted the Banga
lila variety, the seed of which Is con-
paratively small at the rate of from
eighty-two to lightweight pounds per
acre Any type of drill can be easily
adjusted to SOW field pea seed at the
rate that is desired
=. Rate of Seeding
In Ontario and in some parts of
the united States, from two to three
and one-half bushels per acre of
seed is soWn. The experiments which
have been conducted at Pullman in
dictate that on Washington soils the
amount of seed required is much
less. In 1909 nine different varieties
were sown on the experiment station
farm, the amount of seed used va
rying from about seventy-tve to
ninety pounds per acre. Very salts
.o5rory yields of both FORAGE and
esd We're obtained from the plots
.coGed at these rates. As a rule.
sore seed should be sown of varie-
ties having large seeds than of va
lat:es having small seeds.
IN 1910 an experiment was car
rlea on to determine what rate of
seeding would produce the largest
yields of seed. Two varieties were
used, the Kaiser and Bangalia. The
former is comparativeN large
seeded variety, while Rangalia is a
comparatively small seeded variety.
From ninety pounds to 100 pounds
per acre of the large seeded variety
produced practically as large yields
as any heavier seeding and about
seventy-Hve pounds per acre of the
small seeded variety produced the
largest yields. When much smaller
amount of seed than that just indi-
Gated of the two varieties was used
the stand was too thin. and wild oats
- 0'''o' NN''S ieiI u CHdlce TO
develop. On the other hand, when
the rates of seeding We're very much
heaVler than those given above the
results obtained seemed to indicate
mat thick painting Is likely to pro-
uuVe light yield of seed.
Time of Seeding
Peas grow better during the cool
weather Of the early spring than in
very warm weather later in the sea-
SON Tor this reason comparatively
carry seeding will produce better re-
suits than late seeding. On the ex-
pertinent station farm, the plots OF
peas that have been planted by
ApfI 10 or 20 or earlier, have pro-
yucca larger yields of seed than when
painted ut much later date. When
Tue peas are planted very late in the
spring thc\ mature late in the sum-
MGR ana are more likely to be in
Jured py hot weather than If planted
carry
N1c" ie"s "roWn Alone and in Mix
turc With Grains
~" men Helu peas are to be grown
70 maturity ana the seed threshed
tneS are ordinarily soWn alone.
men tlc OBJECT Is To produce hay OF