18 FARMER'S BOOK OF GRASSES 



A .serious objection to keeping in pod till ready to plant is 

 that in the spring when the air becomes warm, the pods are in- 

 fested with numerous mites. When animal or person then touch- 

 es the pods, the mites attack the intruder, penetrate the skin and 

 produce an intolerable itching that will sometimes render' person 

 or animal frantic with pain. 



For feeding daring the cool months, I much prefer them in the 

 pod. If improperly fed, however, to a hungry animal he may be- 

 come choked; if free from hull, he will eat too rapidly and will 

 have colic. An animal that is to have a feed of dry peas should 

 first be watered, then take a handful of pods, giving him one at 

 a time ; after which there is no further danger. 



Peas should yield as many bushels as corn on the same land if 

 properly planted, cost much less to produce and always sell for 

 more. Or again ; on two plats of land of the same quality plant- 

 ed in cotton and peas the crop of peas will pay many times 

 more than the cotton in proportion to expense of production. 



Now a word as to pea vine hay. This is not difficult to cut 

 with the hoe or scythe if in drills; nor with a good mower if 

 broadcast. It is easily raked into long piles or larger rounded 

 ones, with the horse rake of proper construction. It requires, 

 it is true, more time and care to cure well than grass ; packing 

 loosely, it is more bulky and difficult to handle. Yet it is high- 

 ly relished by all live stock and is worth much more than all 

 the labor and expense of saving. When sufficiently dry it must 

 be protected by a roof sufficient to turn all rain. It may be 

 housed in rail pens with rails for open floor a foot above ground 

 and others every few feet above ; or in houses with rails, slats or 

 poles above ground and six to twelve inches apart for it to rest 

 on and then poles through at intervals. In this way it may be 

 cured in fine condition though housed when but half dry. Ven- 

 tilators may be made by nailing together three or four planks to 

 form a tube extending from the floor upwards as high as neces- 

 sary. After filling the house these tubes may be withdrawn for 

 use in another place. 



It should have been mentioned that peas fed in the pod are 

 excellent for sheep ; and a few daily will keep them in fine con- 

 dition during our severest winters. 



The analysis of the pea and vine confirms the practical obser- 

 vations of feeders and farmers as to the value of both as food 

 for animals and land. While containing less fat, they contain 

 much more of the other and more valuable nutritive matters 

 than any of the other forage crops. They contain also more ash- 

 es peculiarly rich in potash, lime and phosphoric acid, besides 

 plenty of soda, magnesium and sulphuric acid. 



