The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-22

The Clay pea is, we believe. regarded
as the best for making vines. next after
the Conch. says the Farmer and Fruit
Grower, and therefore it would rank
highest for a hay-making plant. When
well cared for. pea vine hay Is superior
even to the famous clover of the north
for mich stock; In fact, It is quite unsur-
passed in the line of dry feeding for this
purpose. on rich land they may be sown
broadcast-about at the rate of q nushel
and half per acre and plowed In light
ly with a turn pillow. On poor land they
should be drilled in rows three feet apart
and cultivated a little.
The usual practice Is 10 SOW the peas
between the rows of corn when the lat
ter Is laid by" and this IS a practice
which is economical of labor and expense
IN one respect, yet we doubt its superiority
In the long run. Any system which will
fetch on haying in the rainy season is a
poor one; and the saving of labor which
may result from sowing among the corn
will be counterbalanced, II not more, by
the wretched, unsatisfactory fusslng Of
trying to make hay when II rains from
TWO to fourteen times a week. The writ
er's experience in making pea-vine has
been limited, but he made clover hay for
years, often in rainy weather. The Flor
IDA farmer has one great advantage over
season in the fall which is certain TO be
dry and admirable for hay-making, while
the northern farmer has a short hay
growing season and is liable TO be caught
IN the rain any time of the year.
Rather than attempt to make hay, and
above all out of such thick stalked, sue
eulent plants as cow-pea vines, in the
rainy season. we would cut the corn all
OFT, pillow under the stubbles, crabgrass
and all, and SOW the peas as a special crop
to be made into hay in the latter part II
September or in October. Cow pea vines
ar the poorest possible material to make
hay of in wet weather, as they absorb
shower almost like a sponge
As to curing, the same general rules
apply as were given last week for crab
grass bay. The cutting should not be
too early in the morning, because dew
will not dry off as fast from a mass OF
vines lying on the ground as II will from
the standing plants.
Neither do we believe there Is any
gain in leaving the plants to grow un-
I'll the peas are nearly ripe IN the pods,
but rather loss While they are grow
ing they derive their support largely
from the atmosphere, but as soon as the
seed begins to form they rapidly exhaust
the elements of fertility in the soil More
than that, pea vines which are cured green
and aromatic as Young Hyson tea are
very attractive to the cow and will in
crease secretion OF milk much more than
that which has become dry and woody
even with the pods and peas added A
horse would grind the peas fine and derive
nourishment from them, but a COW Will
very imperfectly masticate them and
viii not receive from them, coarsely
cracked as they are, anywhere near an
equivalent for the rich dried Juices of
green cut hay.
season, I'm order 10 cure it al all, the
farmer will have to resort to sundry de-
vices, as for instance, piling It up around
poles In tall, slim stacks for several days,
or building it up in rail pens, a layer
of vines, then layer of rails, etc, all
Of which is picayune puddering. But af-
ter the rainy season is over pea-vine hay
can be made with comfort, by piling II
in tall cocks. to be doubled and redoubled
as they gradually dry out.