Leguminous Crops.

Otago Witness, Issue 1640, 28 April 1883, Page 7

Leguminous Crops.

Growing stock should not be kept in a fat condition, for the demand of the system is chiefly for muscle-producing matter. There is no concentrated material on the farm that supplies the desideratum in full, and, though Nature has furnished farmers with splendid agents for this purpose in the shape of peas and beans, the opportunity is not improved. For early pasture or soiling after rye, a piece of land broad-casted to tall-growing green peas, mixed with oats is invaluable. The writer of this once kept a cow up to a flow of milk until late in the season by a succession of such crops, and that, too, on a piece of white sand land. It is not known by some that, if these vines are cut and nicely cured when just about to bloom, they will furnish a good crop of nutritious hay ; but, if not cut at flowering time, the leaves will crumble away. Ground peas or beans are economical for feeding, owing to the greatsaving they effect, farmers are tempted to part with them at 2dol. 10c. a bushel, when they often bring more than that sum ; but, if we stop and reflect that this meal, mixed half and half with corn-meal, will enable him us to dispense with one-third the quantity of hay, a great saving is made through the winter. For young calves nothing can equal it. If the farmer has no conveniences for grinding them, the peas and beans can be cooked into a mash in the ordinary way ? and if thus given liberally to the stock, especially the younger portion, will push them rapidly forward. Pigs will grow fasteronitthemthananythingelse. Young heifers become matured several months sooner. By the use of pea or bean meal, wheat straw can be used in place of hay, and, taken as a whole, it has become almost a necessity on well-regulated farms, Bear in mind, as Btated above, peas and beans will not fatten stock as rapidly as corn, nor will corn make the stock grow as quickly as the legumes. Hence, in winter we should feed these articles together, in order to get the best results, — Philadelphia Record.