2O8 THE FORAGE AND FIBER CROPS IN AMERICA 



acterized not only by the abundance of the root-tubercles, but 

 by the fresh and apparently active root-tubercles very early in 

 the spring or during open weather in the winter, in which it 

 differs from most other commonly cultivated legumes. It is 

 believed, therefore, that vetch is unusually active during this 

 period in gathering the free nitrogen of the air. 



The importance of the root-tubercles was shown by the 

 Alabama Station, where in field trials the yield of field-cured 

 hay was at the rate of 232 pounds per acre without inoculation 

 and 2,540 pounds with inoculation. 1 Inoculation was accom- 

 plished by dipping the seed in water into which there had been 

 stirred and allowed to settle earth, in which spring vetch had 

 for several years in succession made a thrifty growth. Because 

 of its habit of growth, it is not likely to be raised extensively 

 for forage, but it is highly recommended by the Alabama and 

 Mississippi stations "to furnish winter grazing upon Bermuda 

 grass sod." s At the Cornell Station three months' growth of 

 hairy vetch produced 6,824 pounds of air-dried forage per acre, 

 containing 240 pounds nitrogen, 53 pounds phosphoric acid and 

 52 pounds potash, while during the same period cowpeas pro- 

 duced 2,262 pounds of forage per acre, containing 46, 23, and 

 19 pounds respectively. 3 It appears perfectly hardy in central 

 New York and to do well as far south as Mississippi. It resists 

 drought well, but is not adapted to land containing an excess 

 of water. 



243. Culture. While it can be sown in the spring, it is 

 valuable principally as an early fall-sown crop. It may be 

 sown alone at the rate of from one to one and a half bushels 

 (60 to 90 pounds) per acre. Sowing it with rye is recom-. 

 mended, as the rye helps to support the vetch, makes it more 

 easily harvested, if this is desired, and adds to the vegetable 



1 Alabama Sta. Bui. No. 87 (1897), p. 464. 



2 Ibid. 



3 New York Cornell Sta. Bui. No. 198 (1902), p. 108. 



