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STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



desirable. A yield of nine tons of green feed per acre is recorded in Circular No. 20, 

 Division of Agrostology. 



In Alabama Experiment Station Bulletin No. 10f>, hairy vetch is recommended as an 

 i specially valuable forage plant for the south. Analyses were made at various stages 

 of growth, resulting as follows: 



Yield and composition of Hairy Vetch cut at different dates. 

 (Alabama College Station Bulletin No. 105.— J. F. Duggar.) 



The analyses of vines, roots and stubbles to determine the fertilizing value develop the 

 fact that the nitrogen content increases with the stage of maturity, while the percentage 

 of potash and phosphoric acid changes but little as the crop matures. These results, 

 however, do suggest the advisability of postponing plowing under the crop for green 

 manure until as late in the life of the plant as practicable. 



The winter vetch is rapidly gaining favor as a cover crop for orchards. For this 

 purpose it should be sown in July or August and if the seeding is followed by favorable 

 growing weather, a very satisfactory crop will bo present to mulch the soil when 

 winter sets in. 



Mr. E. W. Hutchinson of Shelby, Mich., has for several years grown winter vetch for 

 various purposes and writes as follows: 



"I would say that with us winter vetch can be grown successfully either for seed 

 or as a feeding plant, or for plowing under as a fertilizer, and when sown on good corn 

 or potato ground, it will grow a big crop. I have seen a space of six foot square covered 

 with the vines from one root. 



"If sown in early fall, it will be ready to commence to cut in early summer for green 

 feed, and if cut when it begins to bloom, or is in full bloom, and is not cut too close, 

 it can be cut as many as three times. 



"Should it be wanted as green feed for late fall or early spring, it should be sown 

 in the spring, but should it be wanted for seed or dry feed, it should be sown in the fall. 

 Should it be wanted to feed as hay, we find it is well to sow about twelve pounds of 

 rye and fifteen pounds of vetch seed to the acre, but when the vetch is sown alone, we 

 sow about twenty pounds per acre. By sowing rye with the vetch, it holds it up the 

 better, for cutting and curing. Wo find it one of the best plants for sowing on light 

 land to plow under. 



"I do not just remember how much seed we got per acre, but I do know that it was a 

 good paying crop at the price we had to pay for seed, viz: $4.00 per bushel." 



Mr. C. II. Estes, Bates, Mich., in giving his experience with winter vetch pronounces 

 it one of the most promising new legumes for northern Michigan. As a substitute for 

 red clover, he believes that it is a success. His most interesting experience with it was 

 from some sccdings made in the spring which ho used for fall pasturage. Some of the 

 plants which were left through the winter were found in the spring showing above the 

 snow and his cows when offered them although having had roots once a day all winter, 

 would eat this vetch in early March, seeming to like it. Even the fowls relished this 

 green feed in the early spring. 



Mr. Jas. Mills of Mancelona, Antrim county, sowed some winter vetch on sandy soil 

 broadcast May 1st, 1901. He writes: "I tried it for green manure (top dressing) in 

 orchard. It commenced to bloom in August and continued until frost in the fall, and 

 (here was a good covering on the land at the end of the season. It did not, however, 

 seem strong enough to withstand (he June grass." 



