The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1911-11-13


moving the cut vines to one side ano
placing them in wndrows. Where the
, peas are planted in rows IL Is the
opinion OF some that the peas can be
harvested more readily by moving
crosswise Of the rows than by NOV
ing lengthwise.
The moving machine with buncher
attachment has met with considerable
favor in the sections where IL has been
used. We have never used II on the
Station. II occurs to MS. however, that
II would be a considerable improve,
ment over the moving machine alone
I especially ~ II had the rolling coulter
attached. IN this ease the self bunehe,
would eliminate the extra labor In
cured by removing the peas viii
hand forks
The selfrake reaper has perhap
net with better success than am
ther implemcnt for harvesting COW
peas Where one has cnnsiderah',
acreage he would be justified in pnr
chasing one. Where the farmer ha
only few acres, MS Is usually th
case IN oklahoma, one Of the othe
methods would be more practical.
The bean harvester which cnts III,
vines below The surface of the grounG
by means OF knives was used to con
siderable extent several years ago II
harvesting cowpoas. Thorough test
u this machine, however, would ind
cate that it has several Objectionable
'eatures, chief among which are, tha
the neas are continually winding an
twisting about the harvester so tina
It "chokes M" quite frequently, an
considerable soil is mixed with tn,
vines. making them more difficult t,
handle.
Curing for Hay: Cowpeas are yer
difficult 10 cure, much more so thar
is alfalfa. due to the large stems an
hick, large leaves. The vines shou, |
be raised into the swath and allowed
70 remain there for a few hours |
Then they should be placed in sinai |
cocks. In this condition they shoul |
be left for two To five days, dependin |
upon weather conditions The ha
an then be either moved or Mackea |
II stacked it viii be necessary 10 cO4e- |
The stacks with some material othet |
than the peas. such AS prairie graas |
dough grass. elc.
For Ensilaae
Where the enslage cror consists O
peas grown with corn the combined
crop can be harvested ana digpoeeh .
in The same manner as that f0llowe'
in case Of corn alone. Where th
cowpeas are grown alone they snonlt
be harvested at practically the sam,
time and in the same way as for ha,
and taken at once to the silo. II
might be well to note here that ail,
is a very useful addition to the cowpe
farmer, as the difficulty and losse,
incurred in curing the hay are in this
way entirely eliminated.
For Seed.
Time: In harvesting cowpeas fo'
seed the vines should be allowed K
mature considerably longer in the lielc
before harvesting than if they wer'
intended for hay or ensilage. Cow
peas do not ripen evenly and when
half the first pods are ripe there cal
be found in most varieties blossoms
green pods and ripe pods al the same
time Some loss will therefore. neces
sarlly be met with regardless of the
time of harvesting. Harvest the peas
when at least half Of the pods are ripe
and although some loss will occur as
a result of the overripe pods BURSTING
and shattering the peas, yet this loss
will he less than if the peas were har
vested earlier.
Methods: The methods Of harvest
ing cowpeas for seed Will differ mater
ally from those followed in harvestinr
or hay. Where but a small area IS
grown the most practical method IL
hat Of hand picking. In this way the
1eas can be gathered as the pods
-ipen going over the field as many as
.hree times. AS the picking process is
very similar to that OF cotton picking
he common cotton sack is used. The
'ost of harvesting peas in this manner
'anges from seventy-fiye cents TO one
l1llar bushel. While this method is
'athcr expensive, yet It is to be recon-
nended for those farmers who at.
empt to harvest only enough peas to
supply them with seed for their own
,laniing.
When q large acreage is grown the
leas can be harvested by one OF the
Methods formerly suggested and
hreshcl by a power thresher. Meth
IDS of threshing will be discussed in
mother paragraph. There are also
eyeral patented nickers on the market
Which have met with more or less
uccess Ifp TO the present writing the
xtent Of their use would not suggest
hem as practical for the average COW
ea grover 70 purchase.
Threshing.
The leading methods Of threshing
owpeas may be enumerated as fol 4
Dws: by failing hullng and power 4
Mailing is used hoth for threshing
ods and vines but more for the
)rmer II Is a slow process bnt where
My few peas are gathered for seed
IS "a he recommended Where any
quantity Of cowpeas are
rnwn for seed ANA where The pods are
altered Il Is advisable to secure
uller There are many good makes of
ullers upon the market which can be &
coured at n price ranging from $4,000 e
} $3500 Power machines for thresh-
x pea vines have been greatly i'm.
roved in the last few years. There
70 uum m fha market caVarot n