460 FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



separated from the vetch seed, while there is greater 

 difficulty with rye, wheat, or barley. 



Where vetch is used mainly as a green-manure crop, 

 as in southern California, it is nearly always sown alone. 

 In late years in Oregon the tendency has been to plant 

 vetch alone when the crop is grown for seed. This 

 change has been brought about as a result of the high 

 prices charged for thrashing, the same price being charged 

 for thrashing vetch and wheat or oats combined as for 

 vetch alone. 



554. Time of sowing. Common vetch is usually sown 

 in the fall, from September till as late as December. In 

 western Oregon and western Washington most of it is 

 seeded in October, but a growing tendency is to plant it 

 in September, as the damage by winter-killing seems to 

 be reduced. Pearl vetch, which is not winter hardy, is 

 planted toward the end of March, and it is not uncommon 

 to plant common vetch at the same time. Indeed, some 

 dairy farmers plant it at various dates, so as to use it to 

 feed green. Sown with oats about October 1, it is ready 

 to feed about May 1 ; planted later, it can be cut about 

 June 1 ; and if early spring sowing in February or March 

 is practiced, the vetch can be fed from June 15 to July 15. 

 When cut early for soiling, a small second crop may be 

 cut or used as pasture. 



In southern California, when used for green-manuring 

 purposes, common vetch is sown in September, so that it 

 can be plowed under by March. 



In the Southern States, oats and common vetch should 

 always be sown in the fall, October being the best month, 

 though the planting may be delayed till the middle of 

 December. Early fall planting gives the best results for 

 green manuring. 



