The Bulletin. 



45- 



The flowers of Hairy vetch are much larger than those of the wild 

 vetch and are home in clusters of 20 to 30 blue violet colored blossoms- 

 on a long slender vine or stalk. The vines or stalk grow to be from four 

 feet to ten or twelve feet long on very fertile soil. This plant is quite- 

 hardy and succeeds in all parts of the State. It is a very fine soil im- 

 prover and also makes a fine quality of hay, especially when sown with 



Fig. 28.— Hairy vetch and rye growing together in Virginia. 

 U. S. Bulletin No. 515. 



oats. It improves the quality and also increases the quantity of hay 

 when sown with oats or wheat. Unless it is sown with some crop to 

 hold it up, it lies so close to the ground that it would be difficult to 

 harvest it. It is about the highest in nitrogen contents of any of our 

 legumes, exceeding alfalfa or soy beans in this respect. 



Hairy Vetch can be sown from August to November according to- 

 location. It can be put in at the last working of the corn or cotton crop 



