The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-09-21
SOUTHERN :: FARM !: f0TES,
TOPICS or INTEREST TO PLANTER S1ocKAAK5 IcI GROWER
Saving Pea.Vine Hay.

Ile various metnOQS OIL SaNlnS psa-
vine hay with the least labor and
greatest value demands the best
thought of every farmer. Much labor
and energy often go to waste by fol-
lowing the usual plan-to cut when the
first pods begin to ripen and let them
lie and tedder till cured, or otherwise
put in cocks or hang up on posts till
ready for the barn. II rain and dew
falls. shattering leaves and stems and
taking the aroma and green cast out
of the vines, never mind that; toll on;
they are we'll worth the cost, even If
the half-grown pods are moldy. minus
the leaves at feeding time. But the
thought of the enormous labor expend-
ed or paid forin saving green pea crop
is by no means thrilling or encourag-
ing. 1t suggests and clamors for bet
ter methods. The very nature Of the
plant forbids the idea Of saving the
succulent vines and green. half grown
pods for hay except through dry-kiln.
My experience with others proves
that there is cheaper way of saving
and increasing the value Of the pea
crop by letting all the pods ripen fully
on the vines before cutting.
1t is evident that tn. whole crop OF
ripe pods (say. five, eight or ten bushels
per acre., cut and saved with the dry
vines even after frost gives more good
feed than the vines and half growr,
moldy pods. For several years l have
been feeding the dry vines with all the
dry pods thereon. 1t is the most sub
stantial roughage have ever had. 1t
costs less to cut and put in the barn
than any have ever saved. plant
all my oat land in peas-in rows, and
work them with a view Of cutting af-
ter every pod is fully ripe and stems
dry, even after frost. l then cut some
fine morning till noon and haul direct
to barn in evening. 4 sheet or tight
wagon body will save all the shattered
peas, and in rainy days I thresh out
seed from this store Of vines. The
dry vines are interviewer with long,
dry pods. so rich and nutritious that
you wonder why you had not with COM
placency watched the showers and
heavy dews ripen the crop into greater
value to be quickly and safely har-
vested, instead Of worrying when the
first pods ripen.
Our best farmers who realize the
feeding value of dry vines and ripe
peas grown in the corn fields, and the
quick and cheap manner of saving the
same. feed their horses and mules al
most entirely on this forage and sell
their surplus corn to the more improvi-
dent. They usually plant corn in four
to five foot rows. and ct the proper
time plant peas literally in the middle
of the corn rows, and after the corn Is
cut and shocked or otherwise gathered
run the mower between the corn rows.
In order to do this take an old mower
and cut about two feet off the cutter
bar and shorten all up. so it will run
between the rows without cutting the
cornstalk; or new mower, cutting three
feet can be bought that will rnn be-
tween the corn rows, thereby saving
the dry peas and vines-both for seed
and forage-after leaving portions OF
the field for pasture if desired. A short
mower that will run between corn
rows cutting vines and grass is one OF
the most valuable farm implements
NJ. f. B., in Southern Cultivator.