Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-10-24

seriously impaired the feeding value OF
the crop: In fact, it will be worth infin-
itely more per ton than 1.-THE choicest
timothy or corn slower. To feed peavine
hay exclusively to horses will be mis-
take as il is too heterogeneous, but in view
OF the severe damage done the corn crop
by drought this year, peavine hay may
be made 10 take the place of part OF
the corn which would ordinarily be fed.
Where peavine hay is available, one
third OF the corn ordinarily fed may be
saved. and in view of the high price
which this cereal is likely to command
during the winter and spring, farmers
who have an abundance of pea hay may
regard themselves as particularly fortu-
nate
The curing Of peavine hay is best &C
complished as follows: Cut the vines in
the early morning after the dew has dis
appeared. Allow them TO remain on the
ground over night and until the evening
OF the next day. Unless the crop is re-
markably heavy or cut when too green,
they will then be in good condition to
stack. The stacking is best done on
large scale by the following method: A
large number OF stakes about three TO
four feet long should be made. These
may be cut from saplings or made out
of oak scantIings or any other waste
material on the farm. If they are from
two to four inches in diameter, however
will drive better without splitting. and If
taken care of will last for a number of
years. II costs comparatively little TO
prepare two or three wagon loads of
these stakes as they can be made during
rainy weather when it is impossible to
work on the land. When the peavines
have been raked into winrows, a wagon
= a. al. a
driven through the field accompanied by
three or four workmen. One man with
a good maui or sledge should drive the
stakes. Three or four should be set
wherever a stack Of peavines is to be
made. Drive them into the ground to the
depth of about a foot, sloping them to-
wards the center. The base Of the stakes
may be two or three feet apart. If the
peavines TO be put up are very green,
do not put too many in a stack. After
the stakes are set pile the vines over
them. This lifts the vines off the
ground and insures ventilation up
through the stack, and even though rains
fall the peavines will be preserved and
will cure out in fine condition. The fin
est hay the writer has even seen has
been made in the manner indicated The
peavines may be left on these stakes for
week or ten days, though, of course,
IL the weather should be exceptionally
wet, damage may result. This can be
avoided TO a considerable extent by max
ing the stacks pointed on top and COW
ering w.. a forkful of loose grass or
other litter which is compact and calcu-
lated better to shed water than the pea
vines. One man will drive stakes as fast
as three or four will stack the vines,
thus rapid progress may be made around
the field
When properly cured the pea vines
should be hauled to the stack or placed
in the barn. Some prefer to bale imme-
diately. This requires extra good curing
or seasoning in the field. When the vines
are to be piled in large mass in the
barn. IL is important to see that they
are thoroughly cured before storing them.
for in a number OF instances reported
this year barns have been apparently de-
stroyed by what is termed spontaneous
Combustion, the result of piling great
masses Of semi-green material together,
causing them to heat to the point of
catching fire. After the pea vines are
stored the stakes may be taken up and
used in another field or preserved for
the next season. OF all the methods Of
providing ventilation for, the curing of
the crop. this is the cheapest and most
satisfactory one yet devised. Many ad-
vocate the use OF a sapling on which
cross bars have been nailed, and there
are various patent ventilators on the
market. These are all relatively costly
and complicated and more difficult to
keep i'm repair, and not one whit more
satisfactory than the stakes. There is
heardly a farm or plantation on which
pea vine hay is made where there is not
a sufficient amount of wood available
70 make all the stakes needed. The meth
cd outlined is not a new one, but has
been used for a number OF years by
many progressive farmers, but so many
still seem to be unfamiliar with 1t, or
are afraid they cannot cure pea vines on
account of the difficulty they have prev