Culture and Utilization of the Field Pea Til 



entangled in the vines themselves. (Fig. 680.) The cost of this 

 attachment is usually from $12 to $15. There is also a windrow 

 attachment that eflt'ectually removes the peas from the swath and 

 leaves them in a windrow behind the mower. (Fig. 681.) Where 

 such an attachment is not used, it is necessary to have a man 

 follow the mower with a fork land move the vines to one side, to 

 prevent the team and mower from passing over the peas in the 

 following round. A mower fitted with the above attachments 

 works well in fields that are smooth and free from stones. The 

 peas can be left in the windrow or bunched with a rake and left 





¥i<A. ti81. — A Mower with a Windrow Attachment which Automati- 

 cally Removes the Material from the Swath. 



until dry and ready to stack. It is a oommon practice in some 

 localities to harvest the crop by pasturing with hogs or sheep. This 

 is done more largely in the San Luis Valley of Colorado than in 

 any other part of the United States, and is a wise practice only 

 where the fall and winter are dry and* free from snow. 



The field pea should be cut for seed when the pods are fully 

 mature and the peas have become firm. It is not well, however, 

 to wait until the vine and pods are both dry, since if that is done 

 tlie loss from shattering is certain to be large. In a great many 

 cases the field pea is thrashed directly from the bunch or windrow, 

 as it is very difficult to construct a stack that will shed water. If 

 the peas are rained on during the period while they are curing in 

 the windrow or in bunches, they should be turned over as soon 



