THE PRODUCTION OF HAIKY VETCH SEED. 



Table I. — Hairy vetch seedimportations. 



Fiscal year. 



1905 

 1906 

 1907 

 1908 



Quantity 

 (pounds). 



73,245 



68, 354 



208, 100 



242, 332 



Average 



price per 



pound. 



.046 

 .055 

 .048 

 .042 



Fiscal year. 



1909 

 1910 

 1911 

 1912 



Quantity 

 (pounds). 



294. 896 

 542,948 

 954, 025 

 635, 470 



Average 



price per 



pound. 



$0. 039 

 .041 

 .059 

 .087 



The average price is considerably lower than the average price for 

 a good quality of seed; because in these lots are included many which 

 are low in quality, both on account of adulteration and low vitality. 



EUROPEAN METHODS OF GROWING HAIRY VETCH SEED. 



In the Baltic Provinces of Russia hairy vetch occurs as a more or 

 less persistent weed in grain fields, and practically all of the supply 

 of the seed from that region is secured by separation from the rye 

 seed. 



In Prussia, especially in the provinces of East and West Prussia 

 and Pomerania, there is extensive production for seed, but in Ger- 

 many generally more hairy vetch is raised with rye for green fodder 

 than for seed. The rate of seeding used in Germany is considerably 

 heavier than that which has been found advisable for seed purposes 

 in this country. The German Agricultural Society recommends 

 sowing 53 pounds of hairy vetch and 72 pounds of rye to the acre, 

 but the average rate of seeding is somewhat less, though the crop is 

 usually grown on light, sandy soil, where a comparatively heavy 

 seeding is needed. Hairy vetch seed is universally sown with winter 

 rye and usually with the variety laiown as Johannesroggen, or St. 

 John's rye. This variety of rye is peculiar in that it can be sown as 

 early as June and at any time thereafter until the latter part of 

 September. It is a very free-stooling variety and makes a large leaf 

 growth close to the ground. This rye supplies excellent pasturage in 

 the fall, and the date of maturity is 10 to 15 days later than common 



rye. 



SEPARATION OF HAIRY VETCH SEED FROM RYE. 



As hairy vetch is usually sown in combination with rye it is not 

 necessary to separate the mixed seed as harvested when about (me- 

 third of the mixture is vetch. Such mixed seed is far more econom- 

 ical to use than to pay the present high price for imported seed. 



When a separation of the seeds is desirable it is easily and effec- 

 tively accomphshed by the use of a spiral separator, known in Europe 

 as "Schneckentrieur." This apparatus is covered by United States 

 Letters Patent No. 627970, dated July 4, 1899. It is also patented 

 in Germany, Austria, and Hungary, and perhaps in other foreign 

 countries. It is not known to be manufactured or for sale in the 



[Cir. 102] 



