LEGUMINOUS CROPS FOR PIGS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 430, 12 February 1909, Page 2

LEGUMINOUS CROPS FOR PIGS.

GOOD PORK FROM PEAS. v Those' New. Zealand: farriers who are still brave chough to continue to keep pigs will be .intorestedJm what Mr. . H. W. Potts, of the Hawkesb'ury Agricultural College (Sydney);' has to say on the :value of peas as a pig food. Here arc his views : "As . a food for pigs, peas are especially valuableand : wherexonditions permit, -this crop should be more in favour than, it is. This is owing to the' relatively . highprotein content. An average sample: should contain approximately:— Water 15 per cent. . . Ash > ... 2.4 per cent. ..Protein... • 23.7 per cent. • - . Carbohydrates ... 50.2 per*cent. . Fat •; ... N O.B per cent. . Fibre v. 7.9 pcr : cent; . 'V .' i' / . . 100.0 per ceht. , "Peas,' as green fodder,..either; alone' - or with oatS 'or ;barley, ; form '.a : forage .;that ;is highly relished 'by . pigs.. The dried -hay is' useful;, and. the .dried peas : can -be given' in' many ways in the ration. It always acts as a cleansing, agent for subsequent crops ' and it invariably leaves the soil richer iir nitrogen.-. ..Few. foods; eoual peas when. judiciously associated . with other foods. in' producing a well flavouredj'good textured pork and bacon It provides a ..well-balanced. mixture of lean flesh with fat:,' This is: in constant favour" with the curers and consumers. It was found at Wisconsin/also, 'that young pigs f e 'd on .peas had bones 26 per cent, firmer.than others 'P'gf.: wiU ■??, t : P pods', vines, and roots i at all times with a relish, provided tho crop bo not over ripe 'or. too harsh. ■ The best time to turn , tho animals into > a crop is when tho• seeds in . the pods aro, fully'formed.- Compara tive _tests conducted:,in the United States' and Canada have proved that 1 aero of peas

produced' more pork, "and of a better class than .1 acre of maize. • It- is not wise to feed peas alone,; particularly. to young pigs. It renders them s unthrifty;,'and ' there -is a tendency to check growth. In all cases-tlioy should bo given with barloy, maize, or other cereals;' milk and potatoes. - . At - Ottawa , it was shown that 3.331b: peas fed with 2.351b. Bkim milk produced 1 pound of pork. • ••"In:mixed farming a:: poa-crop seldom en- • ters into tho regular • rotation, but there; should -be no-reason why it should not do so in' replacing pother : leguminous crops, sucli as cowpeas,- vetches, clover, or lucerne.. Poas will renovate rsoil: in -.the same .-way, and provo useful as such between- two 'cereal :crops.-S > ;liike;'btHter!l^iuhesj;-..'peaß : ,ihTiye-;b6st oil caloareou's.!;spils;y.alt!ibugh- ; any.:, soil found suitable for oats will usually raiso peas. As a. rule; tho plant does well on light, shallow soils. . Tho .taproot contents .itself with a less depth, of:'soil" than beans or cowpeas— strong clay.; soils 'or stiff loams aro not suitable. -

"It is a common practice to grow a fow beans in tho crop to enablo the leaf-tendrils of. the.pea to obtain support, and; assist, the crop to climb. ! When tho mad is' poor -• it may bo fertilised with 2cwt. superphosphate jto tKe acre, .<jr,-if soil be" deficient; in lime, it should^ bo dressed a fow. months prior v,to .sowing with 4cwt. gypsum- to tho aero. There are. numerous varieties: of- peas"to' select from. We found tho Canadian White Pea, and the Canadian Golden. Vine very prolific; also -another. -Variety,:- • named Sunlop. ■The ordinary/-grey i.fieldv-pea' has. also, given good.:Teturns.-,:.The yield ! ha's;been 'as. high as; 24 bushels'of seed: to-the acre.- o- , ' ;;' "The crop matures in from . .80 .to 100 days. .-.The seed germinates freely at low temperatures. In order to' gain adequate moisturo it -is best to-sow early in autumn, during the wot season; /: Tho seed may be broad-casted, or drilled in swell-tilled soil. In the former, case;-as much as 2 bushels to the acreiioay be used, followed by disc harrowing- -v With tho drill- 10-151b. to the acre are required. Sow. 2 inches deep in drills and 24 to 30 inches apart. .: ' ; yin^lifo"arid : ;prpstrate'.habit,;- rind' frrowth of peas, an3 : ,the freedom with-which' tlm drying ind dried \ pods' ' open:. and -lose their.; seeds,> render harvesting a crop tedious pud diflicult. Tho time to /select for cutting l is-when: the lowerpods are matured arid yield readily- to.'. thumb-pressure. ; This is about the .time that two-thirds of- .the crop is yellow. .-A-', mowing ;fnachine-;is: usually, employed - to. : cut. may: be experienced owing to the" trailing nature of. the' plant. Men' are ! required to, follow with forks to .-' pass ■ the bunches on. oiie and"clear; the; track for' tho machine's lioxt-round. The: vines may be turned onco or twice to dry."