EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 22 ( J 



the results of feeding hogs of different ages rations of four-fifths Katir corn-meal and 

 one-fifth Soy bean-meal, wherein the advantage from adding the one-fifth Soy bean-meal 

 made savings of between 13 and 37 per cent of the feed consumed. This experiment 

 advises to mix just before feeding and not to soak the meal very long. In speaking 

 of Soy bean-meal as a feed for cows, the Kansas Experiment Station Bulletin states that 

 it "will take the place of linseed-meal, being somewhat richer in protein, a laxative 

 feed, which softens the butter. Not over three or four pounds per day should be fed to 

 each cow. Soy bean vines fed green make good milk producing food, though no stock 

 likes the fodder after ripe beans are removed." 



One or two writers have noted that the Soy beans are sometimes destroyed by rabbits. 

 While in some localities this might be a serious objection, the fact suggests a possible, 

 value of the Soy beans as feed for domestic rabbits and hares. 



WINTER VETCH. 

 {Vicia villosa.) 



This interesting legume has appeared under a great variety of names. It is often 

 called hairy vetch and sand vetch. Some have called it Russian vetch, probably 

 because it originated in Russia. 



The seeds of this plant are small, black, hard spheres, resembling sweet pea seeds. 

 The growing plant also bears a close resemblance to sweet pea up to the time it blossoms, 

 when a field of vetch appears as a sea of beautiful bluish- purple clustered tlowers. The 

 plant is a branching, climbing vine, a great many of its branches attaining the length 

 of 7 to 10 feet. 



A full grown crop even in three foot rows forms a dense mat completely covering the 

 ground to the depth of one to two feet. When grown with a crop of wheat, rye or other 

 strong growing plant, it is kept entirely above the ground. 



If the seeds be sown in early spring, when the ground is moist and the conditions 

 generally favorable for growth, the plant will develop rapidly. By the middle of August, 

 it will be in full blossom, although it will continue to grow and remain green until the 

 ground freezes in the winter. A few seeds will be formed in the late fall, but spring 

 sowing is not advisable if one wishes to harvest a crop of seeds. 



If the seed is sown in the fall, that is, any time between the first of August and the 

 first of October, it will make some growth before winter sets in, but in the following 

 spring will continue a marvelous growth, developing blossoms by the first of June and 

 ripen seeds by the middle of July. The fall sowing is the more desirable for producing 

 seeds. One of the principal objections urged against the growing of this crop is the 

 great expense for seeds which are this year quoted at about $7.00 per bushel, while 

 former advices have recommended using as high as a bushel and a half per acre. We 

 find that the seed can be readily grown in this State by sowing in the fall, and harvest- 

 ing about the time of winter wheat. 



It is found too that the quantity of seed necessary can be economized by sowing with 

 some other crop. A mixture of half oats and half vetch for spring seeding and a similar 

 mixture of wheat or rye with the vetch for fall seeding have proved to be successful 

 combinations for soiling and hay. Our observation leads us to recommend the use of 

 winter wheat instead of rye for fall seeding, because the latter will ripen too early and 

 not give the vetch sufficient time for mature growth. When sown with winter wheat 

 for hay, the crop makes an excellent substitute for red clover and is ready to harvest 

 as hay by the middle of June. A piece of this on light sandy loam soil on the College 

 farm the past year from a seeding of one-half bushel Dawson's Golden Chaff wheat and 

 one-half bushel winter vetch gave on June 19th 4300 lbs. of cured hay to the acre. The 

 hay was greedily eaten by all kinds of farm stock, and its feeding value was especially 

 high as will be seen by the following analysis: 



Moisture 17.70, Crude Protein 12.47, Ash 5.72, Ether Extract 2.20, Crude Fibre 24.47, 

 and Carbohydrates 37.42. 



Circular No. 6, Division of Agrostology, recommends ensiloing it in alternate layers 

 with corn. Considering its high protein content, this practice certainly ought to be 



