The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-05
The Forage Plants For the South
Field Peas.

Annual as it is, southern agriculture
cannot dispense with this valuable plant.
Tn reference to the custom of the country
ave still continue to write it "pea," but.
nroperlv. it should be called bean.
For practical purposes it matters not
what we call 1t, for it is the same val
uable plant, under either name. 1t will
he a great many years, doubtless, before
the majority of southern farmers come to
understand the value of the several per-
ennial plants that we have previously
named. and commended to their adoption.
For twenty-five years many able writer's
in innumerable lectures and articles, have
been urging the farmers of the south to
sdopt some of the perennial plants that
are so well suited to our climate, and
relv less on the use of annual plants. 1t
is hardly necessary to say that this ad-
vice has been generally unheeded, Tor we
have made very little Roadway in estab-
fishing these permanent pastures and
meadows that are the very foundation OF
successful agriculture in European coun-
tries. and even in the older parts of this
country few only have taken this pro-
gressive step in our section of the coun-
try. 1t is very unfortunate for the farm
ers of the south and the country at large
that this is so.
The cotton grower of the south has
reached a point now, it seems to us, when
he should feel more inclined than ever
before to take a calm view of the stua-
ton, and ask himself the question how
the continued cultivation of cotton can
bring to him prosperous condition of af-
fairs With the enlarged area of foreign
countries devoted to cotton culture, with
a yearly increasing acreage in our own
country what promise does cotton culture
hold out to the farmer of the South At
lantic states whose soil is deteriorating
yearly under clean culture? Is he pre-
pared to suffer the consequences that
must follow the production of $50 pounds
of lint cotton per acre that may posi-
bly, bring him only or 7-perhaps OF
5-cents per pound? The evident tendency
of cotton culture is to over-production and
lower prices.
It is time to call halt now, before it
is too late For many it may already be
too late Is there any promise that the
cotton and corn" system will lead sooner
or later to other than poverty and bank
ruptcy?
We would that we had the audience of a
Talmage and the persuasive eloquence of
a Moody that we might appeal to the far
mers of the South Atlantic states to stop
and give this matter the serious attention
that it deserves. More hay, more past
ure, more stock, more of the necessaries
Of life We would shout into their ears
until they considered the matter as they
should.
Returning to the subject of pease as a
forage crop, while it is not a desirable
crop for hay, compared to that of num-
Der OF other plants still in the present
condition of much of our upland soils it is
aaapted to the needs of a very large num-
per OF small farmers that are not pre-
pared to adopt other plants of a superior
character. The pea will grow on soils on
winch some other plants would not thrive
II Is quickly maturing plant. For fall
row purposes and for temporary pasture
1t IS hne-requires little care and cultiva-
uon. crop of seed can be gathered from
vines and there leave a very good pasture
Tor getting stock in good order to enter
upon winter. 1t is always in order to
81" pease among corn. The majority
vi southern farmers have not learned the
ra,oper way to cure pea vines for hay
lhey must be treated like clover and lu-
ceihe The vines should be shocked soon
utter cutting and allowed to heat" then
puued apart and exposed 10 the sun and
aH until the resulting moisture is expelled
I"eh 'he hay can be safely stored When
f'Pery cured II makes nice forage, 9TH
WISE not. It Is a rich food; makes rich
A.I.A ana butter. IL is not TOO late 10
S'" pease now on any vacant land. Ii is
sood preparatory crop for the oats
S.sal or barley in October and November.