VETCHES ANT) VETCH-LIKE PLANTS 487 



The usual time for seeding is September in southern Cali- 

 fornia and October in northern California. 



For seed production only 15 or 20 pounds to an acre 

 is sown. The crop is cut with a mower when the pods are 

 mature, cured in windrows, and thrashed with a grain 

 thrasher. Some care is necessary in curing to avoid loss 

 by shattering. The average yield of seed to an acre in the 

 best seed district is 1500 pounds. The seed weighs 60 

 pounds to the bushel. 



595. Lupines (Lupinus spp.). Several annual species 

 of lupine are much cultivated in southern and central 

 Europe both as forage and green manure. The important 

 species are white lupine (Lupinus albus), Egyptian lupine 

 (L. termis), yellow lupine (L. luteus), and blue lupine 

 (L. angustifolius). 



All of these species are adapted to a cool growing 

 season, and succeed best on sandy loams. They will not 

 endure much lime in the soil nor an undrained subsoil. 

 Light frosts are not injurious to the young seedlings. 



Lupines are planted in early spring in northern coun- 

 tries, and in fall in regions where only light frosts occur. 

 They are utilized as pasturage, green feed, or hay for sheep 

 and goats, but other animals will not eat them on account 

 of their bitter taste. The bitter substances can be re- 

 moved from the hay by soaking in cold water, and when 

 thus treated the hay is eaten by cows and horses. The 

 seeds may be treated by boiling one hour and then 

 washing 24 hours in running water. This treatment 

 removes the bitter substances, but results in a loss of 

 about one-sixth of the dry matter. The disembittered 

 seeds furnish a rich proteid feed. 



Lupines have often been tried in America but rarely 

 make satisfactory growth. This may be partly due to 



