482 FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



The adaptations and culture of the plant are essentially 

 the same as those of hairy vetch. At the Ontario Agri- 

 cultural College it produced yields of green forage during 

 2 years of 2.2 and 3.9 tons to an acre, somewhat more 

 than that produced by common vetch, but less than 

 that of hairy vetch. 



The native form is sometimes abundant in moist mead- 

 ows in New England, but as it turns black in curing, is 

 not always welcomed. 



590. The Tangier pea (Lathyrus tingitanus) is an annual 

 legume, native to North Africa, and similar in a general 

 way to the garden sweet pea, but much more vigorous in 

 growth. The flowers are deep red and smaller than the 

 sweet pea. As an ornamental the Tangier pea has long 

 been known. As a forage crop it was first grown and 

 recommended by Trabut in Algeria. 



It is adapted to about the same conditions as the sweet 

 pea. In the North it must be planted in the spring ; in 

 the South and on the Pacific Coast, in the fall. In com- 

 parison with the vetches and other annual legumes used 

 as winter green-manure crops in California, the Tangier 

 pea has proved to be much more vigorous in growth and 

 to choke out weeds perfectly. At the California Experi- 

 ment Station a yield of 9 tons of hay to an acre in a 

 single cutting has been recorded. Ordinarily, however, it 

 will not yield nearly so large a crop as this. 



Both in the Southern States and in western Oregon the 

 Tangier pea has given very promising results. 



The seed weighs 60 pounds to the bushel and is nearly 

 as large as that of the field pea, though somewhat 

 flattened. If broadcasted, about 45 pounds of seed to an 

 acre is necessary ; if drilled, 30 pounds is sufficient ; very 

 excellent stands have been secured by using only 12 pounds 



