LEGUMES 41. 



crop. If it is cut early before it has become too coarse and 

 woody, it makes a valuable hay. For this reason it is grow- 

 ing rapidly in favor in certain sections of the country. 



Peas. — Peas are often very profitably grown with oats, 

 when the crop is to be grazed off by hogs, or to be fed to 

 dairy cows. In districts where peas are grown for carming 

 purposes, the vines are cured into hay or made into silage. 

 As silage they form one of the best feeds for fattening sheep. 

 They may also be used for feeding dairy cows and beef cat- 

 tle. Ensiled pea vines contain a large amount of water, 

 and if fed in too large quantities may cause serious diges- 

 tive disturbances. They should always be fed in coimec- 

 tion with hay or a dry grain ration to counteract this tend- 

 ency. Peas contain high percentages of both phosphorus 

 and protein which make them excellent feed for all classes 

 of young stock. The dried seeds when ground are valuable 

 as feed for hogs and dairy cattle. 



Beans. — While beans are usually grown for human 

 food, they may be used to good advantage for feeding 

 stock. They are high in protein and mineral matter. 

 Where beans are raised for the market, the straw is valu- 

 able as a roughage for fattening sheep. 



Cowpeas. — Cowpeas are grown extensively south of the 

 Ohio River. In some of the North Central States fairly 

 good results have been obtained from their use. They are 

 hard to cure, but where they can be grovm successfully, 

 they may form a good roughage for sheep and dairy cows. 



Peanuts. — Though usually grown for human consump- 

 tion, peanuts are used as a feed for live stock to a con- 

 siderable extent in some states. Hogs do well when turned 

 upon the crop in the field and allowed to dig the peanuts 

 for themselves. When peanuts are harvested in the usual 



