American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1911-04-08
CANADIAN FIELD PEA
One OF Most Valuable Crops for
Grain and Hay.
Excellent Crop for Either Old Land or
Sod and Planted In Various Ways
Length Of Season Governs
Amount of irrigation.

'''S0stOU.
The Canada field pea is perhap.
one OF the most important and valu
able crops. both for forage and grain
that has been introduced into The
West. 1t is both valuable for irri
cation farming and dry farming. II
some sections the field pea has revo
lutionized the agriculture, writes
Prof. B. c. Buffum In the Irrigation
Age.
There are a good many varieties
OF Canada peas. The Mexican is q
mixed or mongrel sort, which Is large
ly grown in Colorado. The White
Canada has given us the best results
In all our experiments. There are
several strains of these White Can.
ada peas. We are now growing some
from Sweden, France, England, Ger.
many and other places. and some OF
these strains are far more productive
than the common ones obtained from
Canada or Wisconsin. Other forms
Of field peas offered by seedmen are
Green Canada, Blue S%cotchman, and
several forms of garden varieties.
like the White and Blackeyed Mar
rowfat. The Golden Vine is one of
the best known varieties.
At higher attitudes, where the sea-
sons are cool, field peas do well on
almost any kind of soil. At lower
attitudes, where the summer is hot,
the cold, heavier soils give better re-
suits. Under systems of dry farming
sandy soils which retain the most
moisture are the best.
Peas r a good crop for either old
land or sod, and they may be planted
In a variety Of ways. Good results
are sometimes obtained from sowing
them broadcast on the sod and cover
Ing them with the breaking plow, but
such method cannot be recommended.
They may be disked in or planted and
covered by any method used for other
seeds. The best way is to use the
press drill. Forced feed drills will
often crack some Of the seeds; but
the saving made by drilling the seed
ls very great in spite of this fact.
Many of the split peas will grow. and
the seed put in the ground with a
drill will be well planted. They may
be sown from one inch to four inches
deep.
Field peas should be planted as
in the spring as the ground can
be prepared. In some places where
the ground is dry, the seed may be
sown late enough in the fall SO hat
It will not terminate. At lower alti-
.udes, where the season is long, the
peas may be sown as late as the first
middle Of July. and they will get
arge enough in the fall either to pro-
luce forage or to be plowed under to
Increase the humus and nitrogen in
he soil. The best time, however, is
20 plant as early In spring as posi-
bic. February is not too early. If the
is thawed out.
Peas are easy things to cultivate.
On the dry farm, under the two-year
system, all they will need is a harrow
ng with a drag-tooth harrow after
hey have come up. Under irrigation
may be managed at the pleasure
If the farmer. The pea is what the
calls an in~determinate grow
n, 1. e.. it grows, blooms, and ripens
iced as long as there is moisture and
lbsence Of hard. freezing weather.
The amount of irrigation will de-
,end upon the length of the season.
ind somewhat, also. on the heat of
he summer. Where summers are
lot, flood irrigating will blister or
injure the pea plant. Fur
'ow irrigation Is better. They may
,e kept growing by irrigating often
to keep the soil moist. We
ave found that on good, loamy soil
our irrigations gave a yield o~fripened
of 34% bushels per acre, and
bout four tons of vines. while seven
gave a little larger growth
n vine. but only 10 bushels of peas.
'ecause they did not get ripe. On ac-
cunt of it's adaptability to different
oils, different ways of planting, ease
t farm management and response to
ry farm methods or irrigating prac-
Ice. the field pea is one of the cas-
est managed crops.
The pea is both forge and a grain
rop. Pea hay properly made is a
oughage u%nexcelled by any other.
'oorly made pea hay is poor stuff.
Iood pea hay is a valuable feed for
ny kind of live stock. 1t has been
ound that over-ripe pea hay. pea
traw, or that which has been spoiled
the stack. is dangerous to horses,
attic. pigs or sheep. because 1t
auses indigestion and impaction.
'hese troubles are absent when prop
rly made and cured hay is fed. The
peas are highly heterogeneous
,od. They are specially valuable for
Dung, growing stock. Except for
lmbs or pigs which have good teeth
nd can grind their food. peas should
Q chopped or ground. Pea hay
hich contains ripe and partly ripe
will make the horses slick and