fertilizing material may be saved. Furthermore, if such a winter crop 

 is planted, the land instead of losing organic and inorganic food ele- 

 ments is constantly acquiring them. 



Analyses of hairy vetch made by Coudon in 1890 showed that this 

 forage plant contains for every 100 parts of dry matter 22.78 per cent 

 nitrogenous matter, or protein ; 2.61 to 3 per cent of fats ; 23.25 of 

 cellulose, or crude fiber; and 39 per cent of nitrogen-free extract. 

 Every ton of dry hay contains 45 pounds of nitrogen, 19 pounds of 

 phosphoric acid, and 62 pounds of potash. The yield amounts to from 

 6 to 10, and sometimes on very rich soils 12 to 15, tons of green forage 

 per acre. The nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid contained in a 

 ton of vetch hay, if bought in the form of a commercial fertilizer at 

 current prices would be worth about $11. The yield of dry hay taken 

 on this basis would amount to from 1^ to 4 tons per acre, the yield 

 depending much upon the fertihty of the soil and the state of cultiva- 

 tion. These fertilizers, as produced by the vetch, are in the best form 

 or combination to be used as food by the succeeding crop. A crop of 

 hairy vetch plowed under about the first of May, would therefore place 

 in the ground fertilizers that would cost from $16 to $45 per acre if 

 purchased in the form of commercial fertilizers. The hairy vetch has 

 as high a nutritive ratio as any forage plant, that has been analyzed, 

 excepting the soja bean. 



In proportion to its cellulose and nitrogen-free extract, which repre- 

 sent the contained starches, sugars, and like compounds, it has a very 

 high per cent of protein and fat. To realize its fullest value as a soil- 

 ing crop it should be fed mixed with corn fodder or timothy hay or 

 roots, which are all rich in the carbohydrates but are deficient in 

 protein. The two classes of foods need to be fed together to prevent 

 loss of protein, which is that part of the food that becomes transformed 

 into blood, bone, and muscle. The carbohydrates when digested go to 

 produce heat and motion, and the surplus is stored up as animal fat. 



Hairy vetch is eaten with relish by all kinds of farm animals. If 

 properly cured it makes very fine hay, though on accomit of its habit 

 of growth it is very difficult to cure. It has been tested in the silo in 

 alternate layers with green corn and alone. The former method is the 

 one to be used if the best ensilage is desired. It is a most excellent 

 forage plant for soiling purposes. On account of tbe difficulty of 

 curing it properly, it will give the most satisfactory results if fed green 

 or ensilaged. 



Hairy vetch, while it gives a fair crop on sterile soil, is most profit- 

 able as a forage plant on rich and well-tilled land. It needs consider- 

 able moisture during the first six weeks of its growth, but when once 

 fairly established withstands drought and extremes of temperature. 



