Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-01
SAVING cow PEA HAY.

Peas planted IN drills and cultivated or
sowed broadcast for hay and forage are
almost as common now on the farms OF
this and adjoining states as the cotton
fields. The COW pea fever has been rag
ing and broadening out for the past Few
years. and Il IS destined TO be the most
useful and economical means OF reclaim
ing the worn and depleted farm lands OF
the south II is not our object In this
article 70 speak OF the value or the COW
pea as a soil renovator, nor discuss the
scientific reasons why the cow pea poss-
ess the peculiar faculty OF enriching and
building I'D the land upon which they
are sown- The latest and best methods
OF hroadcasting and curing the crop Tor
winter feeding should first engage our
attention at this time.
Cow Pea hay Is most valuable when
the earliest pods begin to ripen- When
the pods are about two-thfrds ripe Is best
OF ali times 20 start the mower. IL har-
vesting Il done too early there is less hay,
and Il n inferior In quality and nutri-
neut On the other hand, II the cutting
is too long delayed. the stems Of the
plant become hard and woody. the leaves
drop OF. the seed are lost and the hay
is even less valuable than when cut too
early. Psavine hay cures slowly similar
70 clover. as every one must know who
has had any experience with IT. II pos
sfble the hay should be thoroughly dried
before stacking or placing in the barn.
The plan which have pursued with sue
cess for many years has been as follows;
The mower IL started In the morning af-
ter the dew Is on. and Gu ting continued
throughout the day or until the held is
moved over.
On the following day at about 9 o'clock
the rake Is started. the vines drawn up in
windows about Is 10 20 feet apart. II
the weather IS open and clear the vines
nmNe nnwuaw NH FhaxF
are hauled up and either stacked or
placed IN the barn II the vines are not
fully cured, they should be well packed
down BY trAmping whom stored as damp
vines stored or packed loosely viii mould
and intMre. Methods used by other farm
ers successfully is found in the following
plans They start their mowers after the
dew IL OF and run the machine until
noon In the afternoon the vines are
placed In medium sized shocks and left
IN that condition for two or three days
TO cure II the weather is clear.
Rain on the green cut vines Immediate
~ after cutting does not injure them, nor
, do light showers falling later on the
partly cured vines. SeasOnable weather
can generally be found at the period OF
harvesting IN September and October IL
the weather bureau chart Is watched
Three days Is all the time required TO
gut. rake and cure a field OF peavines.
MAAN VINES 1AANAA4 never DC M1AA4AEu VI
flowed about when damp either from dew
~ rain II the hay Is overdried the leaves
become brittle. drop of. and waste. II
Is not a good plan 10 undertake 20 bale
the hay IN the field directly after curing
There nav still be enough moisture in the
zines 70 cause heating and moulding If
packed at once.
Baling Hay for Market.
The safest plan to pursue in baling pea
vine hay. either for market or home use,
Is 70 put the vines IN stacks, topping off
with straw and allowing II 20 stand for
a few weeks. or pack IN the barn under
cover for the same period OF time. When
the Sweating Is all over and the hay
thoroughly dried II may then be safely
packed without fear Of finding any mould
in the center Of the bale al,erward, which
would not only deteriorate the valu OF
the hay IL price but also its usefulness
and nutritiousness as a food for stock.
Baled peavine hay. when properly done.
win always command a good price in any
OF our local markets.
Saving the Seed.
Quite a number Of farmers plant peas
in the corn fields. or drill them In separate
fields for cultivation. Ordinarily on small
farms the pods are gathered and the seed
threshed out with sticks. When gathered
in large quantities the seed are threshed
pea huIler. The yield OF peavine hay va
ries from two 10 three tons OF dried hay
per acre. except on very thin land. The
yield OF the seed per acre when cultivated
IN rows. viii range from : to 50 bushels
Per acre One serious trouble in saving
the seed through the winter months, is
damage from weevils. The same weevil
which attacks the garden bean. lays heI
eggs on the COW pea pods before they are
gathered. In the south where the TEN
perature In the buildings where the seed
are stored Is nearly every day above
freezing. there are generally from two e
three broOds OF weevils Matched out be-
fore spring The only real safe treatment
OF the seed 10 guard against injury from
weevi-s Is 10 use cotton bisulphide. The
treatment is simple and should be giver
as soon as the seed are threshed
and before they are stored for winter
Place the seed In tight barrels or box,
IS and then pour In on top OF the seed
about one ounce OF the liquid bisulphids
for each bushel OF seed. Then cover tnt
barrel or box at once with old sacks 81