4. The legume must be allowed to attain nearly full development 

 if the gain in nitrogen is to be large, since during the early stages 

 of its growth the nitrogen which it requires comes in large measure 

 from the soil. 



There are two classes of cultivated vetches — 

 Vetches. spring and winter. The winter vetches are 



much more valuable than those belonging to 

 the other class. The hairy or sand vetch is the most valuable 

 variety. It is suited to medium loams, found especially valuable 

 in orchards, useful both in preventing erosion and in gathering 

 and conserving nitrogen and should usually be sown with winter 

 r3'e. Broadcast 1 bushel of seed per acre. 



Suited to medium or fairly heavy loams, 

 Field peas. quite hardy and useful for nitrogen gathering, 



should be grown with a grain crop. Broad- 

 cast 1^ to 2 bushels of seed per acre. 



Best suited to medium loams, may be culti- 

 Crimson clover. vated either as a winter annual or annual, 



not quite hardy enough to make it reliable 

 as a winter annual in most parts of Massachusetts, though it occa- 

 sionally goes through the winter. Where it does this, it is one of 

 the most valuable cover and green manure crops. Sown in August 

 it makes a thick mat of leaves, serves to conserve nitrogen and 

 prevent erosion, starts its growth very early the following spring 

 and can be turned under in season to be followed by a crop which 

 is to be harvested; where hardy particularly valuable in orchards. 

 Seed broadcast about 15 to 20 pounds per acre. 



Suited to a wide variety of soils, but do best 



Common and in medium loams ; if sown the latter part of 



mammoth red July or early in August make sufficient growth 



clovers. in autumn to prevent erosion and conserve 



nitrogen, start into growth fairly early the 

 following spring but will not mature in season to be followed by 

 such crops as corn and potatoes. These clovers are very deep 

 rooted, may often be very profitably used for combined forage 

 and green manure, much used in orchards. Seed broadcast 8 

 to 10 pounds per acre. 



Distinct from the true clovers, like them in 

 Sweet clover. many respects but not nearly as valuable for 



forage, suited to a wide variety of soils if 

 drainage is perfect, particularly deep rooted, sown in July will 

 prevent erosion and conserve nitrogen, starts into growth extremely 

 early the following spring and will furnish a large bulk of vegetable 

 matter which may be turned under in season to be followed by 

 crops to be planted about the same time with corn. There are 

 two varieties, white and yellow; the white is the more valuable 

 for green manuring. Seed broadcast about 20 pounds per acre. 



