Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-10-24
SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR
MANAGEMENT OF COWPEAS

The drouth period has been so extended
as TO make all forms of roughage for
the maintenance Of live stock question
OF considerable importance TO our farm
ers- on this account the greatest care
and attention should be centered on max
ing and curing every possible pound OF
peavine hay. The weather has been favor
able for this work I'D 10 the present
time. and while much hay has been
made. q good deal remains TO be harvest
ed yet, on account OF the late planting
or the peas
The best time TO cut pezvines for hay
is when the pods down near the ground
and the lower leaves show tinge of
yellow on the tip II the cutting De
long delayed the stems win become hard
er and more difficult TO maSucate, and
hence less palatable 70 the live stock
There viii be a much greater tendency
for the pods TO open and the peas scat
ter out, while a larger per cent OF the
leaves will be lost in the curing process.
The attempt TO cure hay before II reaches
the srage Indicated would be equally I'm
fortunate. for IL viii not then contain a
maximum amount Of nutrients. and Its
curing will be much more difficult II Is
best. therefore, 10 delay the cutting until
the crop is ready for harvest AS mat
ter Of fact II hay be cut at the time
indicated, 1t can be rnreshed and the
seed viii have been sumcienty natures
TO permit OF their being used for SEED
next year with perfect safety and saus-
faction This is an important matter 70
bear in mind, for the farmer can secure
not only his seed but some surplus peas
10 sell in a cheaper and easier manner
by curing the crop for hay and then run
ming through a thresher and winnowing
out the seed than by having the crop
picked for half the peas, as Is now the
general practice throughout the state
Many fields Of peas pickle. on the basis
suggested will net the workers from
s. 10 81 a day. Where the farmer does
not own a thresher a cutting box may
often be used as q satisfactory substitute
A short carrier should be attached 10 It
Remove a section OF the floor and put
in a screen large enough to let the peas
readily pass through II is true that
good deal of chan and dirt viii 1all
through with them, but this may be eas-
lily winuOwed out Some OF the peas VIII
be crushed or broken, but probably not a
greater per cent than would be the case
where the crop is threshed with a large
machine In this way large number
of meas win be recovered and may be
preserved for seed. and thus enable the
farmer 10 plant larger areas 70 this crop
each year for soil improvement which is
a most important consideration to our
southern farmers Those who are afraid
70 thresh peas By machinery viii mo oy
following the directions accompanying
the ordinary threshing outfit and remoV-
ing a part OF the teeth from the cyiin-
der and reducing the speed that tins
work can be done satisfactorily, ano
with expediuon as well A small thresh-
ing outfit has been operated on the col
lege farm for threshing peas for several
years past. and il the work is done
when there is some moisture in the air
and the straw is not too dry and brittle
only a small per cent OF the peas viii be
injured
Ii is true that the removal Of the peas
from the hay will lessen its feeding val
ne TO some extent, but choice peavine
hay is equal In value for the nutrition
az live stock to alfalfa, and within GER
tain limits may be made TO replace part
Of the bran OF other concentrates ordi-
narfIy fed 70 horses and cattle; hence the
removal OF a part Of tire grain has not