Milford chronicle., 1916-03-24
HAIRY VETCH.

While there are a good many kinds
of vetch, only two are commonly
grown in this part of the United
States. One Of these is the common
Vetch, or spring vetch, that does not
Withstand the Delaware winters. The
other is hairy vetch, sometimes called
winter vetch, but known specifically
as Vicia villosa, and, therefore, some
times called villous Yetch, which
means exactly the same thing as hairy
Vetch. Hairy vetch succeeds especial
ty well on sandy soils, but can be
grown on any we'll drained land. 1t
Is remarkably drought resistant. The
seeds OF hairy Yetch are only about
half as large as those OF common
Vetch, and it is rare that more than
20 or thirty pounds to the acre are
grown. Enough rye or other small
grain to make a thin stand should be
added, generally half a bushel to the
acre. No special preparation Of the
land Is necessary for hairy vetch, but
the seed bed should be well firmed.
An periods of drought the seed will re-
main a long time in the ground and
then germinate. The so-called hard
seed, a small percentage Of which Is
nearly always present, will remain a
year or more in the soil without ger
'minating.
InOculatlOn.
Inoculation of the soil when hairy
Fetch is planted for the first time Is a
matter Of prime Importance. as fail
ares due to a lack Of the proper
germs in the soil are a common ex-
perience. The surest method Is to
bring the soil from an old field Of
Feteh, either hairy or common, and
scatter over the field at the rate of
300 pounds to the acre and immed- /
lately harrow II in. II screened, Il
may be sown with a drill. Where soil
is not available, the artificial cultures
may be used, but in this event only a
small field should be planted, as the
cultures do not always succeed and
1he risk is too great to warrant a farm
4er In planting a large field on land not
inOrulated. Where inOculatiOn has
once been successful the land will re-
main inoculated indefinitely. A par
tally inoculated field often has a
spotted appearance when young, the
healthy plants being green and the
uninOeulated ones yellow. If such q
spotted field is planted again the fol-
lowing season II Is practically certain
ahat all the plants will be inoculated.
Hairy Vetch seed Is nearly all OBJ
7alned from Russia and II Is now very
scarce and high so that Delaware far
mers are strongly advised to save
Their own seed this year II they have
any vetch now growing. Under favor
able conditions the yield has been as
high as II bushels to the acre. but as
q rule only three OF four bushels are
Bbtained At the Mississippi expert
ment station hairy vetch was harvest
ed nom the same piece of land five
years in succession without resOw-
ing, enough seed shattering during
harvest 10 produce perfect stand. '
The only treatment has been to plow '
the land after harvesting the vetch /
and then plow the cowpeas. The COW s
peas were cut for hay. after which t
the Yetch quickly made stand Hairy a
getch, when cut after some of the b
seed has matured, IL not threshed for 4
seed, should be put in a barn with a
light floor, where much of the seed
will rattle 70 the bottom. Vetch that
is cut so late is not of high feeding s
value. but the stock will eat much Of
L and the rest can be used for bed o
ding. In taking out the straw from '
-he NOW care should be taken to shake C.
lut any loose seeds it may contain. Il
By this simple method a farmer can c
sasily grow his supply Of vetch seed
It al low cost. b
Uses Of the Crop. t.
Hairy Yetch is adapted to nearly as
vide a range of uses as red clover, d
md in regions where red clover for 1t
my reasons does not succeed 1t Is the ri
lest substitute. It makes excellent
Jay, though it is rather difficult to S
now. II furnishes pasturage Of high P
Iality and may be graZed somewhat
q the spring without materially re- k
ucing the hay crop. When planted c.
q the spring it will permit a large
mount Of grazing the first season OF
nd full hay crop the next. AS a win al
ar cover croD it gives satisfaction.
al