108 SAND, OR HAIRY VETCH 
because of their nitrogen-gathering powers, they hav- 
ing these nodules on their roots; but a vetch plant will 
have ten nodules on its roots where these other plants 
have one. 
The vetch roots are so numerous in the soil that it 
will plow up like heavy sod. The foliage of the plant 
is so massive that it produces from twelve to twenty 
tons to the acre. There is no plant of the nitrogen- 
gathering species that produces such a quantity of or- 
ganic matter for plowing under as is furnished by the 
vetch plant. 
When plowing up the 21-acre field mentioned in the 
beginning of this chapter the next spring after the large 
corn crop had been grown, the author observed that the 
corn roots had pushed their way down into the mass 
of vetch plowed under, and had interlaced themselves 
around the vetch stems until the whole mass had been 
knitted together, and, the plow turning it on top of the 
furrow, it looked like sheep skins spread out on the 
ground, On exposure to the air the mass fell into small 
pieces. 
This observation proved to the author that the corn 
roots had found in this mass of vegetable matter a great 
feeding ground, where both feed and moisture were 
found in abundance for the feeding of the corn plants. 
After six years’ experience with it I am convinced 
that the claim of the Agricultural Department, that an 
acre of it plowed under is equivalent in value to twenty 
to forty dollars, is not extravagant. 
It is the greatest soil builder ever discovered, alfalfa 
not excepted. With it and ditching I can reclaim any 
