Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1895-04-18

lege)
This is a luguminous plant,
which has been used for long
time as green food for stock, It
has not been fed as extensively in
this country as in the European
countries. In France and England,
the vetch has been grown for stock
food, for many years, and forms an
important factor in furnishing for
age foI stock, .. --.
There are several species which
are found growing wild in Oregon.
Some of these furnish valuable
pasturage, and others considered as
pests, especially in grain fields.
The question has been asked very
often, if this domesticated vetch
will not become a pest, and thus do
more harm than good. 1t is the
opinion Of the writer that it will
not, any more than tame clover
will become pest. II is an annual,
or in other words grows from the
seed every year, hence there is
little danger Of it becoming trouble
some, if the farmer is reasonably
careful.
This plant resembles the wild pea,
which is found in such abundance
in the mountain range, especially
in the coast range. II does not
belong to the same genus however,
but is closely related. There is
spring variety which is grown in
the Eastern States, and in Canada,
with more or less success. The
variety that we are discussing is
called winter vetch; but it will
mature when sown as late in the
spring as April; if sown at that
time the crop will mature in
August or September. The most
common practice is to SOW the seed
in the fall or winter, and then the
crop will be ready to begin cutting
for green feed in April or May.
The plant grows best on all open
rich soil. 1t has been grown very
successfully on the red hill land of
the coast mountains, and it itpromises
to become very valuable forage
plant for such localities. One and
one-half bushels of seed is sufficient
for one acre. 1t is a good plan
to mix 4 bushel Of wheat or rye
with the seed to hold up the plant
when growing. 1t will make four
or five feet, and often more growth,
in one season. If there is no grain
with it, the vines will fall over,
thus making it difficult to harvest.
We have found it valuable for all
kinds of stock. 1t has been fed to
horses, cattle and pigs with the
greatest satisfaction. For horses it
has been cut and fed green, during
the summer, with very fattering
results. One farmer, whom we
furnished some seed for trial, said
that he had never had his horses
do SO well, during the working
season, as when they were fed the
green vetch. Some grain should
be fed with it, although in the case
mentioned no grain was used. AS
green forage for cattle, especially
dairy stock, it has given the utmost
satisfaction, 1t is greedily eaten,
and furnishes a highly nutritive
ration.
1t has been used for silage on
several farms in the valley, and has
given satisfaction, when properly
put up. 1t does not keep in the
silo quite as we'll as corn. 1t is
more difficult to pack it closely
enough to exclude the air.
The yield per acre will not oidi-
narily equal that of corn; yet at the
Station, we'have secured 10 tons
per acre at one setting, This was
on good strong soil, but without
any special culture.
AS a food for pigs, it has been
highly satisfactory. Some expert.