112 SOILING CROPS AND THE SILO. 



are well adapted to the growth of this plant. But 

 the highest adaptation, viewed from the standpoint 

 of climate, is found in western Washington and in 

 Oregon. The growth that is produced in some sec- 

 tions of the states is simply extraordinary. The 

 summer climate of the central and southern states is 

 too hot for the successful growth of vetches at that 

 season of the year. But in several of these states, if 

 not indeed all of them, the vetch may be grown with 

 greater or less success when sown in the fall and fed 

 in the spring. The dry climate of the semi-arid belt 

 west of the Mississippi river is not well adapted to 

 the growth of vetches. 



Soil. The soil conditions favorable to the 

 growth of the common vetch are much the same as 

 those favorable to the growth of the common pea. 

 Vetches luxuriate in clay loams and can be grown 

 with a fair measure of success even on stiff clays. 

 Infertile sandy lands are not favorable to the growth 

 of the common vetch, but the sand vetch has much 

 power to grow on these lands. The black humus soils 

 of the prairie, where the clay content is low or 

 entirely wanting, will not produce the best crops of 

 this plant. The gray soils of the Rocky mountain 

 valleys which produce rank peas will also produce 

 rank vetches, and with or without irrigation, 

 according to conditions. 



Place in the Rotation. Since vetches are soil 

 renovators, they may be grown with advantage 

 before a crop that requires much nitrogen to perfect 

 its growth, as, for instance, wheat; and because of 

 their ability to grow even on soils not very abun- 

 dantly supplied with plant food. Vetches may be 



