The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-10-19
THE GOLD LEAF.
PEA VINE HAY.
Simple and Economical Method Of
Saving this Valuable Feed Crop.
II. Hobbs in Progressive Farmer.

T II Hobbs in Progressive Farmer.
MEssRs. EDITORs: ] have read with
much interest the different articles III
Progressive Farmer lately On how to
cure pea vine hay Almost every one
has a different plan, and probably
most Of them are IL success, but the
plan that is surest and most eco
nOmical is the plan we want. ] have
put up over go, 900 pounds in the
last ten years by the methods herein
outlined, and | hope your readers
will give them their careful attention.
Pea-vine hay ismostly raised down
here after truck crops, such as beans,
Irish potatoes, etc. As soon rs pos
sible after truck is gathered we SOW
the peas broadcast at the rate OF q
bushel per acre, and chop them in
with disc harrow. This generally
levels the ground sufficiently; if not,
we take Il board drag, or tooth har-
row and finish the job. We have
found by experience that the speckled
pea is the best OF them all, as the
vines mature more quickly: they are
almost always sure to bear peas, and
they have nearly as much vine as the
Unknown Pea
WHEN TO CUT.
Watch the vines carefully, and when
IA few of the pods are ripe, Others
grown and some half grown, then
they have about reached the stage of
maturity, and if the weather is favor
able, do not delay. All that are cut
before : or O'Clock should be raked
into windrOws the same day, for they
will be cured too much to lie scatter
ed in the dew. The dew will turn
them brown and Ofconrse bri ght hay
is the object sought for. Those that
are cut after this time may be raked
into windrows the next evening.
Take Il pitch-fOrk next morning as
soon us dew is off and open windrOws
by throwing them slightly to right
and left. 1t will take but Il short
while to open up IN acre. Let them
lie till about noon; then take IL horse
rake and pile windrows into as large
piles us possible and round them up
with fork
HOW TO CARRY HAY TO STACK.
Most people either take it or haul
with q wagon. These methods are
completely out OF date Move the
piles Of hay to stack Just exactly as
YOU have seen them slide piles OF to-
bacco on warehouse floor with IL
rope, to wit
Take mule with pillow gear, single
tree and clevis attached, and three
extra trace chains. Fasten them
end to end and throw them around
the pile to be moved. Now fasten
the ends of the chain that is around
the pile to the clevis. Stand on the
chain back of the pile and start your
mule. BY this method one hand can
move as much hay as four men with
II wagon. Try it and be convinced.
HOW TO STACK.
Have stack poles twelve feet long
and place them in the ground two
and One-half feet. Begin platform
by mailing on two cross pieces six
feet long about eight inches above
the ground. I've generally have
them two and One-half inches wide
Drive q stOb at the end of each cross
piece and nail to same with one eight
penny wire nail Take four pieces
five or six feet long 1.-TWO fence rails
chopped in two will do,) and place on
ends of cross pieces. This makes
well ventilated platform to start
with, which is necessary.
Lay the hay on loosely and make
the stack about six feet in diameter.
Nail on two cross pieces every two or
two and One-half feet up the stack;
one twenty penny wire nail to each
piece will do. Have Il ladder along
and pace the top layer slightly and
let the last fork full hang over the
top of the pole. This forms a kind
of umbrella
Hay stacked by this method will
stand the weather Il good long time
without much injury, but it is always
best to house as soon rs thoroughly
cured. When YOU take your hay
down you can save the cross pieces
for next season. If you are careful
in taking them off they will last a
long time, thereby helping to reduce
the cost of stacking to a minimum.