The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-08-10
AN EXPERTS ADVICE.
Curing Pea Vine Hay andi Turning
Under Cow Peas.
atlanta Constitution.

To answer to several inquiries we
give the following as the plan we have
practiced for several years with salts
factory results.
l. As to the proper time to NOW the
vines. The earlier they are cut the
more succulent they are and the more
time required to cure; but the leaves
will shed less. But if cut before in
full bloom the hay will not be so rich
and nutritious. AS a general rule,
the best time to cut is after the vines
have come into full bloom, and when
ever few full-grown pods are to be
seen here and there. When the leaves
have commenced to turn yellow and
drop off, it is an indication that the
proper time for moving has "come
and gone
2. Wait until the dew is off each
morning--never cut when the vines
are at ali wet. Start the mower about
9 a. M; let it run until noon and then
stop for the day. Late in the after
noon rake up the cut vines and place
in sharp cocks about five feet high.
Next morning, after the dew is off,
open these cocks and spread the hay
around on the ground. In the late
afternoon put two or three of these
cocks together, or into one, making
the tops as sharp as possible. If the
weather remains clear the cocks may
remain undisturbed until dry enough
to store away in the barn, which will
be in the course of three or four days
the time varying according to the
condition of the weather. In case of
showery weather the partly-cured hay
may be shocked around pole placed
firmly in the ground and standing
about twelve feet high. The ground
around the pole should be first covered
with an open platform made Of rails
or poles laid on stones or poles; and
three or four long poles or fence rails
should be placed upright around the
centre pole, opened out at the base
and fastened at the tops to the centre
pole. After filing the pole with hay,
finish off the top with straw or crab
grass.
3. Ray caps are now much used in
the North and West, and to some ex-
tent in the South, and we have used
them with perfect satisfaction for
several years past. One kind is made
of thick paper board, in the shape of
an inverted saucer and about three
and half feet in diameter. These
are inverted one over each hay-cock
and the cocks are not then disturbed
until the hay is dry enough for the
barn. But very good hay cap may
be made of ordinary cotton drilling or
heavy cotton sheeting, by sewing to-
gether so as to make sheet about
six feet square, with round eyelet
hole worked in each corner. These
sheets, one to each cock, should be
tied down securely at each corner. The
hay is considered to be sufficiently
cured for storing when no moisture
shows on twisting the larger stems be-
tween the thumb and fingers.
4. There are other methods of cur
ing pea vine hay, each with it's advo-
Gates. One plan, often and long COM
mended, is to place the freshly cut
pea vines in layers, alternating with
dry wheat or oat straw. We cannot
recommend this plan from expert
ence.
One rule should be especially OBJ
served, viz, never handle the vines
when partly cured. except late in the
afternoon or early in the morning.
Indeed, the vines should be handled
as little as possible, in order to pre-
vent the loss of leaves.
We take occasion again, as we have
often done in the past, to disapprove
the practice of turning under crop