The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1894-08-09
Curing Pea Vines.
INV the Dirant0r

Several inquiries have been received
as to the best method of curing pea
vines, and an answer has been promised
in 1.-THE Farmers Columns"
l. The proper stage at which the
vines should be cut in order to make
the most nutritious and valuable hay is
when they are in full bloom. This
stage may be indicated by the presence
of few full grown pods, and occasion
ally ripe one. Cut at this time, or
earlier, the vines are rather more Diff
cult to cure because the stems are more
sicculent) than when cut at later
period. But it will also be found that
the earlier cut vines will not shed their
ting the more woody will be the stems
and the less nutritious and palatable.
Yet the product is good even if the
vines be not cut until loaded with ripe
peas.
2. It is better to cut with regular
horse mower, but short, strong scythe
blade will answer for small areas.
8. Commence cutting In the morning,
after the dew has dried off, and con-
tinue until noon. In the afternoon, say
four or five o'clock, rake the cut vines
into sharp cocks about five feet high.
Next morning. about eight o'clock, open
the cocks with fork and spread the
hay around on the ground. In the af-
ternoon of the same day, gather into
cocks again, at the same hour, putting
several cocks into one. If the weather
continues clear and hot, these cocks
may now remain without disturbing
them, until the hay is dry enough to
haul and store away in the barn, which
will be in the course of three or four
x,o%1yfynr onnnrIi1O RI ms q ~
ces. If the weather should become
showery, stack poles about twelve feet
high should be erected at convenient
distances, and.the hay should be stack
ed around them. Care should be taken
to lay rails or poles around the base so
as to form an elevated platform to'keep
the hay entirely off the ground. In adj
dition three or four long rails, or sap
ling poles, should be placed around the
center stack pole two feet apart at the
base and extending to within two feet
of the top of the stack pole, where the
ends may be secured by mailing, or 9TH
er convenient way. The hay should be
placed around the stackpole, dressed
down as smoothly as may be, and the
top capped with long straw, or crab
grass, or with patent, wood-pulp hay
cap. The object of the side poles, or
braces, is to keep the center OF the
stack open, and thus admit the air. In
our experience at the station we have
had pea hay to remain in such stacks
five or six weeks, embracing period
of showery weather, and with very lit
tie loss The principal points of eau
ton to be observed are ~ to avoid
moving the vines when wet with dew
or rain, and (9) to avoid handling the
.l1red, or partly cured, vines when the
caves are crisp and dry. Wait until
the moister air of the late afternoon
causes the leaves to be plant and tough,
and they will not fall off SO readily.
The hay may be known to be dry
enough to keep in the barn when the
larger stems will not show moisture
when twisted between the fingers.
The above is the general method that
has been successfully employed at the
station for the past four years.
One ton of well cured pea vine hay is
an average yield per acre, where peas
have been sown on small grain stubble.