The distance which should be allotted for the intervals between the rows of peas may be three, four, five, or six feet, according to the growth of the sort and richness of the soil. The plants should not bo allowed to grow too thick in the rows, otherwise they are drawn up slender, without a duo proportion of foliage on the lower part of the stem, which, in that case, as well as the leaves depending on it, is apt to become unhealthy and to mildew.
Agricultural Cultiration.—The common pea is cultivated in the garden and in the field, and there are several varieties of it. The plant is naturally a creeper, having numerous tendrils, by which it lays hold of stronger plants and supports itself. The pods contain one row of round seeds, which at first are soft and juicy, in which state they are used for the table under the name of green peas. They after wards harden and become farinaceous, and the stem dries up. In this state they are thrashed and stored for use like corn, and serve chiefly to fatten hogs. The straw is given to cattle and sheep in winter.
There are some varieties of peas the stems of which do not rise or creep, but remain short, and hence are called dwarf peas. These are preferred for early sowing in the garden, and likewise when they are cultivated in the fields to be gathered in a green state. Every gardener strives to raise early peas, and the first which are brought to the London market are sold for a very great price. As soon as they are more common, such quantities are sometimes raised in the fields, that the price scarcely defrays the. expense of gathering and bringing to market. When the market is not overstocked, this crop is very profit able, as it does not exhaust the land, and there is good time for a crop of tares or turnips after the peas in the same season. But the usual purpose for which peas are cultivated in the regular course of hus bandry, is to fatten sheep and hogs. A white sort, which readily splits when subjected to the action of millstones set wide apart so as not to grind them, is used in considerable quantities for soups, and especially for sea stores. There is also a blue sort which answers the same purpose. The hog pea is of a gray or dun colour.
Peas contain much farinaceous and saccharine matter, and are there fore highly nutritious ; no other seed surpasses them in this quality, except the seed of the French bean (Phaseolus). But this is refused by most animals in the raw state, owing to a certain toughness, which makes them adhere to the teeth ; and, even when boiled, they are not relished by them.
As food for hard-working men, peas are excellent when well boiled and mixed with some animal fat. In some countries peas-meal is baked into hard cakes, with or without oatmeal or barley-meal. These cakes are nutritious, but are of difficult digestion, except where custom and hard labour have inured the stomach to their use.
The soil best suited to the growth of peas Is a light or sandy loam of some depth, and in good heart ; the usual preparation of it is by re peated deep ploughing and pulverising with harrows or other instru ments. It is not advisable to manure the land immediately for peas, as it makes them throw out abundant stems at the expense of the produce in pods. They follow well after barley in which no clover has been sown, and are a good substitute for clover where there would be a danger from the too frequent repetition of clover on the same land. When clover has failed, peas supply its place, the ground being ploughed up before winter, or early in spring, and well pulverised. The wheat is not generally so good after peas as after clover, when the clover is a good crop ; but it is well known that if the clover fails, the wheat will also suffer. It is therefore better to have peas than to risk sowing wheat after a thin crop of clover. If the peas are not well hoed, and do not cover the surface, the land will be full of weeds; but with good management It may be looked upon as a cleansing crop. Many farmers consider peas as a very uncertain crop : but they are only so when the land is carelessly cultivated. They are, no doubt, often injured by want of moisture in the coil, or by an excess of it; but deep ploughing will prevent the former, and careful draining the latter. If peas are sown on land which is exhausted, or naturally very poor, no certain crop can be relied on. It sometimes happens however that an excellent crop is obtained against all probability, considering the state and tillage of the land, owing to some fortunate coincidences of favourable weather ; and in this case it would appear as if great care in the preparation of the soil were unnecessary ; but this is not often the case, and no prudent farmer will trust to the chances, which aro much against success. In nine eases out of ten a slovenly cultivation or an improper succession of crops is the cause of great disappointment and loss, and it may be laid down as a general rule, that no good farmer will trust to accident, when by a little care and attention and a reason able expenditure be may almost ensure success.