The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-04-30
Raleigh, N. c., Apri; 80, 1901.
DOES PEA VINE HAY EVER INJURE
STOCK?
Mr.. Barbrey Argues That When Damaged it
is Unsafe to Feed it.

"A SuOE6 G1ul0 dSO E0C0lN0u d copy
of the Southern Planter, published
at Richmond, Va, in which refer
ence was made to the death rate
among horses in Virginia and the
correspondent suggested that mas
much as it could be shown that the
loss of horses was confined to that
portion of the State in which pea
vines are largely used for hay, the
sickness might be traced to the use
of pea vine hay as the probable
cause. Prof. Massey replied vigOr-
Ously, charging the idea to be a
''mare's nest" to scare the farmers
and deter them from the use of this
very valuable feed.
Prof. Massey is beloved very much
by North Carolinians, and by Vir-
ginians too, and we regard him as
an able man whose advice is often
sought as coming from high author
ity; but while we regard him as a
doctor of agricultural science, we do
not remember ever to have heard of
any pretensions on his part of being
a doctor of medical science, and if
not, he may not be accurate in dag
nOsis and since some very ordinary
men some times make important
discoveries, it might be best not to
ridicule ideas advanced until there
is certainty of falsity.
This writer is So years old, and
from his earliest recollection farm
eys have claimed that horses are in
jured by running on pea fields; that
they "show up badly in winter and
whether the pea or the vines did the
mischief, or whether it was due to
sound or damaged ones they simply
discovered that such grazing had
bad effects.
From the writer's experience in
using pea vines as hay for horses, he
is convinced that when we'll cured
and free from mold it is valuable
and free from danger to stock; but
he is also convinced that there is
IL uch risk in feeding horses on dam
aged peavine hay. Hence, be be
ieves that the complaints made by
farmers as herein stated are we'll
founded, since very few peas or vines
remain in fields late enough for
horses 80 be turned in without be-
ing to some extent damaged by rains
or dews.
A most difficult thing for me to do
is to cure properly pea vine hay,
even n good weather, if the pod Is
about grown. Even when detached
from the vine and laid in the sun,
and carefully managed, the pod is
difficult to cure and leave no trace OF
mold on inside much more difficult,
then, must il be cure the vines and
pods together.
About eight years ago advice came
through the bulletins and other
papers that the proper time for cut
ting pea vines for hay, is when they
are in bloom that they hold their
leaves better, and contain at this
stage of growth all the food value
that they do when the pod is grown,
but in u different form. Later, these
same mediums of information sug
gested that it is better to cut when
the IDS are turning brown that by
SO doing the leaves would not shed
so bad. II the latter is true th5
former may not be, but if the former
l., even if it can be shown that the
latter is also, common sense teaches
that since it is easier to cure before
the pod natures, and since it is al
mitted that damaged hay may in
jure, and even cause stock to die,
all pea vines cut for hay, should be
cut when in bloom. The writer did
not succeed in preserving the leaves
under either plan, except when in
barn where they could be raked up
This letter is not intended to dis
courage the use of pea vines as hay,
for he aims TO continue their use
himself; but rather to encourage
better curing, that all danger may
be avoided.
If owners of mowers and rakes
would also use hay presses and pack
into bales of 100 pounds or less, SC
they can be stored under cheap shell
ters or in barns, it would greatly
lessen the risk in preserving this
most meritorious forage.
More anon.
VIM. A. BARBREY.
Sampson Co., N. Q.