Milford chronicle., 1912-09-13
Low GRADE HAIRY VETCH SEED.

The Secretary of Agriculture has issued
warning to prospective purchasers Of
hairy vetch seed against certain lots of
low grade which are now being offered by
/ wholesalers TO the smaller dealers.
The greater part of the hairy vetch
seed used in the United States has thus
far been imported from Europe. Among
recent impOrtations there are a number of
seed of low quality, containing from 5 to
so per cent of hairy vetch seed, the bal
ance being made up OF either cultivated
forms of spring vetch, which are not hardy
in the Northern States, or Of various
species of wild vetches, Of doubtful value
for agricultural purposes. This lOw-grade
seed is now being offered by wholesalers
to small dealers throughout the country
and is thus being widely distributed
I The price of hairy vetch seed lie higher
this year than il any previous year, que
| largely to the increasing demand for this
seed as the advantages of hairy vetch as a
winter cover crop are becoming known.
With the present high price Of seed it is
especially important tnat persons wiehing
to SOW hairy vetch should obtain only
pure seed, as the money paid for poor
seed is wasted and the failure Of the crop
is sure to follow its use.
Persons unfamiliar with the botanical
characters by which hairy vetch seed can
be definitely distinguished from ne seed
Of the other vetches that are used as adul.
teFants can in most cases avoid the use of
adulterated seed by carefully examining
the seed for points Of distinction.
The seed of hairy vetcb s spherical
varying from 81 to 3 81 of an inch in
diameter, with an average diameter of sp-
proximately ] OF an inch
The seeds OF most OF the other vetches
are more or less irregular in form, being
lense shaped or fiattened at the ends
where they were crowded together in the
pod They vary in size, some being
smaller and Others larger than hairy vetch
By spreading a small quantity Of tine
mixed seed thinly on piece OF cardboard
or other smooth surface, and fitting IL
slightly with a gentle shaking motion,
the hairy vetch seeds, which are spheri
cal, will roll off leaving behind most Of
the seeds which are used as adulterants.
Hairy vetch seed IL dull grayish black
with greenish tnge when the seed is
fresh, although this greenish tinge Is not
present in imported seed which is usually
at least one year old when il is offered for
sale Ia this country. The seeds of the
other vetches found mixed with hairy
vetch seed vary greatly in color. some be /
ing light grav notified with brown and .
black, some Uniform : brown, and others
gIossier and blacker than marry vetch.
he color OF the crushed seeds is also /
an indication Of the presence or absence
Ofadulterants The crushed seed of hairy
vetch is bright lemon yellow in color
The seeds which are used a. adulterants
Of hairy vetch seed for the most part vary
in color from a dark fawu so q reddish
orange or salmon color. II a small amount
1f seed is crushed the presence Of any
)theT color than bright lemon yellow in
iicates the seed is adulterated
II the seed is not spherical it is not
hairy vetch If the seed is not uniformly
/ gIayish black color with eTeenleh
iDge IN fresh seed II is not hairy vetch
I the inside Of the broken seeds is not
emOn color IL is not hairy vetch.
BY careful examination of auv seed
'ffered Tor saIe with he above suggestions
n mind. anv one can be fairly sure of
discovering the presence Of aduterants.
. there is still any doubt, samples should
} submitted to the nearest State expert
De mt station Or seed testing laboratory
Or critical exsn alton. Further inform
ton VIII he found in the following forth.
omiDg publications Bureau Of Plant
Industry ClrculaT l02 Production OF
lairv Netch Seed, and Farmers Bulletin
10 Netches.