122 



DESCRIPTION OF FEEDING STUFFS 



vines, making a gain of about 8 pounds per month while thus 

 grazing. An acre of peas will fatten 10 to 15 lambs, putting these 

 in the finest possible condition for the market in the course of 70 to 

 90 days. A somewhat longer period is required for ewes that are 

 lean when first turned into the pasture. Swine will keep healthy 

 and make rapid gains on a pea pasture alone when turned in as 

 soon as the peas are full-sized. For both these classes of animals 

 the growing of field peas presents great possibilities in the northern 

 sections of the country where this crop grows to the best advantage. 



Fig. 19. — Sweet clover is an excellent aoil builder. Cut for hay at an early stage 

 (before blooming), it makes a good quality of hay which resembles alfalfa in composition. 

 (Breeders' Gazette.) 



When peas are grown for canneries, the whole crop is now 

 generally delivered, and the peas are separated from the vines at 

 the factory by means of threshers. The vines, which often contain 

 many peas with pods, are either siloed and the silage used for 

 sheep and steer feeding, or cured into hay. Pea vines make a very 

 nutritious hay that is relished better by horses, cattle, and sheep 

 than the straw of the grain crops (Stone). If cut before maturity 

 and well cured, it approaches clover hay in feeding value. 12 



12 Del. Bui. 41 ; Farmers' Bui. 224, 690. 



