Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1938-03-11
QUALITY IS OF i
IMPORTANCE TO
PEA CANNING

There is no question of greater I'M
portance to the grower of canning
meas than that of quality. Yield as
well as quality is profoundly lntluen-
ced by the kind and amount OF plant
food available to the crop. Vi the
three plant foods-nitrogen, phos-
phorus and potash-all of which are
REQUIRED in large amounts, detlclen-
CIV of potash influences quality most
adversely.
For many years Gamers as we'll as
farmers have contended that potash,
especially in the form of murlate,
tends to make the skin or seed coat
of peas tough, resulting in a canned
product of low quality. Recent ex-
neriments at the New York Expert
ment Station, however, show that this
is not the case at all. This work has
definitely shown, on the contrary, that
the presence of an abundance OF pot
ash causes the skin to be more ten
der than where the supply of this ele-
mnt is low. Toughness of the SKIN
was found to be associated with high
calcium and low potash content OF the
seed coat. No difference could be de-
tected between the muriate or sulphate
forms of potash in their influence on
quality.
The qualities of peas which Gamers
look for and dmand, are tenderness,
flavor, clearness of liquor, freedom
from broken or defective peas, and
uniformity in size and color. Flaw
or, which depends to a large extent up
on sugar content, is definitely influen-
ced by potash. In fact, all of these
desirable quality characteristics are
present in highest degree only when
the fertilization of the crop is such
as to supply an adequate amount OF
potash and the minimum requirement
of calcium.
Important as is the influence of the
proper kind and amount of plant food,
and particularly potash, on the quail
itv of peas, it should be remembered
that time of harvesting also influences
m,alitv. Definite and marked changes
take place in peas as they approach
maturity, regardless of fertilizer treat
ment. AS they grow older, the skin
becomes tougher, the peas become
harder, the sugar content decreases,
and the content of starch, dry matter,
protein and calcium increase. All OF
these changes tend to reduce the quail
ity of the pack, thus emphasizing the
importance of time of harvesting.
Satisfactory fertilizer practices
have been developed in most of the
important canning pea areas. In the
Del-Mar-Va area, the most successful
growers use from 800 to as much as
1900 pounds per acre of 4-8-7 spec
iai pea fertilizer. On the heavier
soils, or where manure is literally US
ed, a somewhat lower percentage of
potash may be satisfactory. However
with our knowledge that the soils OF
this region are naturally low in their
potash content, and that yield as well
as quality are favorably influenced
by potash, best results are likely to
be attained where complete fertile,
or carrying at least z per cent potash
is used.
Where enough fertilizer is used tt
secure maximum yields, careful atten,
ton should be given to method of ap-
plication. Where the peas are drilled
the fertilizer should either be broad.
casted about two weeks before plant
ing. or applied at planting time, using
a drill equipped with special fertilizer
attachment which places the fertilizer
in bands between the narrow drill
rows. If planted in rows, to be cul
tivated-about one-half should