( no) 



There is much diversity of opinion as to the proper treatment of 

 the vines in curing them for winter hay. And as much has been 

 written upon the subject, the writer feels some diffidence in giving 

 his own views. Suffice it to say, the great end to be attained is to 

 cure the vines to the extent only of getting rid of a part of the 

 succulent moisture in the vine, without burning up the leaves. 

 When exposed to too much heat, the leaves fall very readily from 

 the stems and are lost. 



When put up too green and too compactly they heat, and when 

 fermentation of the juices in the vines, and unripe pods occur, the 

 hay is seriously damaged, if not completely spoiled. Mildewed 

 hay of any kind is but poor food for stock, and when eaten is only 

 taken from necessity to ward off starvation. Some planters house 

 their pea hay in open sheds, or loosely in barns, with rails so fixed 

 as to prevent compacting. Others stack in the open air around 

 poles, having limbs from two to four feet long to keep the mass of 

 vines open to the air, and cover the top with grass. 



There is diversity of opinion as to the proper manner of curing 

 and preserving this hay, but there is none as to the value of this 

 rich food for all stock, and especially for the milch cow in increas- 

 ing the quantity and quality of her milk. 



In attempting to renovate our soils by the aid of vegetable fer- 

 tilizers, we should not confine ourselves to one, but should utilize 

 all which are suitable to our soil and climate. The writer has some 

 sixty or seventy acres in clover, and in much of this grasses are 

 sown. Orchard grass and Herd's grass thrive well with us, whilst 

 blue-grass and timothy find a congenial home in the lime lands of 

 Middle Tennessee. In no part of the State does clover grow so 

 well as in West Tennessee. 



In considering the great advantages of the field pea to the agri- 

 cultural interests of our people, I do not wish to be understood as 

 disparaging other vegetable renovators of the soil. The field pea 

 certainly possesses many advantages, such as its adaptability to 

 almost any soil, and to many crops grown with it at the same time 

 and with positive benefit to the crop grown with k on the same 

 ground. Each row of corn should be flanked by a row of peas. 

 Every spot of ground in the field too poor for corn can and will 

 .produce peas. There is nothing better to be sowed in old ploughed 



