VETCHES AND VETCH-LIKE PLANTS 471 



especially in the Northern and Western States. Spring 

 seedings are, however, wholly unsatisfactory where the sum- 

 mer heat is great, as the plants quickly succumb under 

 such conditions. The soil condition at the time of seeding 

 is not a matter of vital importance, as if the ground is too 

 dry, the seeds will remain a long time without germinat- 

 ing, and with comparatively little moisture the seedlings 

 become well established. 



Too late seedings are to be avoided. At the Virginia 

 Experiment Station mixed seedings of hairy vetch 32 

 pounds and oats 50 pounds to an acre were made Sep- 

 tember 15, September 30, October 15 and October 30. 

 The resultant hay yields were respectively 4200, 4500, 134 

 and pounds to an acre. 



571. Depth of seeding. The seed of hairy vetch 

 germinates very much like that of the field pea; that 

 is, the cotyledons remain where planted, the plumule 

 becoming much elongated. Largely on this account, hairy 

 vetch seed may be sown quite deeply without any injury 

 to the stand. Up to 4 inches in depth, no loss from 

 deep planting occurs, and surface sowings are satisfactory, 

 provided moisture conditions are good. Ordinarily, a 

 depth of 1J to 2 inches is to be recommended. 



572. Inoculation. Hairy vetch unless inoculated does 

 not succeed. It is readily inoculated from both common 

 vetch and narrow-leaved-vetch, and doubtless by other 

 vetches. According to Nobbe the pea and vetches 

 readily inoculate each other. This idea prevails where 

 vetches are most grown, but the evidence is not conclu- 

 sive. The nodules are usually lobed and often in globose 

 clusters. 



573. Uses of the crop. Hairy vetch may be fed 

 either as hay, pasturage or silage. The greater part of the 



