The Ordway new era., 1911-03-31
CANADIAN FIELD PEA
0ne Of Most Valuable Crops for
Grain and Hay.
gssslIsnt Crop fer Either Old Land o.
o>d and Planted In Various Waye
Length Of season Governs
Amount ef irrigation.

ood and Planted IN various "syc
-Lsnath Of Season Governs
Amount ef irrigation.
The Canada field pea II perhaps
one Of the most important and valu.
able crops. both for forage ana gram
that has been introduced into the
West. It IL both valuable for irr1'
cation farming and dry farming. In
some sections the neld pea has rsvo-
lutionizsd the agriculture. writes
Prof. B. @. Buflum In the Irrigation
Age.
There are . good many varieticS
Of Canada peas. The Mexican II
mixed or mongrel sort, which 10 large
" crown 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. Franco. 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 nsld peas offered BY sssdmen are
Green Canada. Blue scotchman. and
several forms Of garden varieties.
like the White and Blackeyed Mar.
rowfat. The Golden Vine 10 one OF
the best known varieties.
At higher attitudes. whore tho sea-
sons arc cool. field peas do well on
almost any kind Of soil. At lower
attitudes. where the summer 10 hot,
the cold, heavier soils give better re-
suits. Under systems Of dry farming
sandy soils which retain the most
moisture are the bsst.
Peas are . good crop for either old
land or sod. and they may bs planted
In . 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 b recommended.
They may be disked in or planted and
covered by any method used for other
seeds. The best way 10 to use the
press drill. Forced feed drills will
often crack some Of the seeds: but
the saving made by drilling the seed
10 vsrj great In spite Of this fact.
Many Of the split peas will grow. and
the seed put in tho ground with .
drill Will b we'll planted. They may
bs soIn from one inch to four inches
deeo.-$
Eiald peas should be planted a.
early in. the spring - the ground can
b PREPARED. In some places whore
the ground 10 dry. the seed may b.
sown late enough In the fall 20 that
Il will not terminate. At lower alti.
tudes. where the season 10 long. the
peas may be sown ~ late ~ the flrst
or middle Of July. and they will get
large enough in the fall either to pro-
duce forage or to be plowsd under to
increase tho humus and nitrogen in
the soil. Tho best time. however. 10
to plant A. early In spring a. posi-.
bic. February 10 not too early. II the
ground 10 thawed out.
Peas arc easy things to cultivate.
On tho dry farm. under the two.ysar
system. all they will nesd 10 . harrow.
ing with . drag.tooth harrow after
they have come up. Under irrigation
peas may be managed at the pleasure
Of the farmer. The pea ID what tho
botanist calls an indetermihate grow.
er. l. o.. II grows. blooms. and ripens
seed 40 long a. there 10 moisture and
absence Of hard. freezing weather.
The amount Of irrigation will do
pend upon the length Of the season.
and somewhat. also. ON the heat Of
the summer. Where summers are
hot. flood irrigatins will blister or
otherwise injure the pea plant. Fur.
row irrigation 10 better. They may
be kept growing by irrigatins often
enough to keep tho soil moist. We
have found that on good. loamy soil
four irrigations gave yield Of ripened
peas Of 3lk bushels per acre, and
about four tons Of vines. while seven
irrigations gave little larger growth
in vine. but only 10 bushels Of peas,
because they did not get ripe. On &C.
count OF It's adaptability to different
soils. different ways OF planting, ease
Of farm management and response to
dry farm methods or irrigatins prac.
tice. the field pea 10 one Of tho eas.
lest managed crops.
The pea Is both forage and a grain
crop. Pea hay properly made is a
roughase unexcelled by any other.
Poorly made pea hay is poor stun.
Good pea hay Is a valuable feed for
any kind Of live stock. It has been
found that over.ripe pea hay. pea
straw. or that which has been spoiled
in the stack. 10 dangerous to horses.
cattle. pigs or sheep. because Il
causes indigestion and impaction.
These troubles are absent when prom.
erly made and cured hay 10 led. The
threshed peas are highly nitrogenous
food. They are specially valuable for
young. growing stock. Except for
lambs or pigs which have good teeth
and cnn Grind THAR Hoad 49,