64 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



jection is to be found in the present cost of the vetch seed, 

 — 15 or more a bushel. This excessive cost is due to the 

 fact that the vetch is a poor seeder, and frequently sheds its 

 seeds before they can be harvested. 



History of the Several Trials. — The first planting of this 

 mixture, Aug. 1, 1898, winter-killed, in all probability, 

 owing to the fact that the seed was sown too earl}'. 



The second planting, made Aug. 25, 1899, in the propor- 

 tion of 2 bushels of wheat to ly^ bushels of vetch, wintered 

 well, and made a fine spring growth. Cutting began May 

 31, and the yield was at the rate of 10 tons to the acre. 



The third planting was made Aug. 24, 1900, with equal 

 quantities of wheat and vetch seed. The autumn of that 

 year was extremely dry, and the wheat killed out to some 

 extent, so that the vetch predominated. The following 

 spring was wet and cold, — a condition which appeared to 

 favor the growth of the vetch at the expense of the wheat. 

 At the time of cutting. May 30, the vetch had completely 

 covered the wheat in spots, and had lodged badly. The 

 vetch roots were full of the characteristic nodules. The 

 weight of the entire yield was not obtained, but a conserv- 

 ative estimate places it at 6 to 7 tons to the acre. 



The fourth planting (i/^ acre), made Sept. 3, 1901, at the 

 rate of 1^ bushels of Rural New Yorker No. 6 wheat and 1 

 bushel of vetch to the acre, wintered Avell, and cutting began 

 May 28, at which time the mixture was from 2^/2 to 3 feet high. 

 At that time the wheat was about ready to show the head, 

 and scattered vetch blossoms were noticed. When in full 

 bloom the mixture stood from 3^ to 4 feet high. The total 

 yield was 6,545 pounds, equivalent to 9,5 tons to the acre. 



Further Use of the Land. — Immediately after the removal 

 of this crop the land was ploughed, a light dressing of ma- 

 nure applied, and seeded with Longfellow corn. A yield (the 

 past season) of 35,362 pounds (17.68 tons) of fairly well- 

 eared green fodder to the acre was secured. The land was 

 light and the rainfall excessive, which conditions Avere favor- 

 able, excepting lack of heat, for fodder production. The 

 total product of this piece of land for one year (first sown 

 to wheat and vetch, and followed by corn) was at the rate 



