126 FORAGE CROPS. 



bushel of the vetch seed and one-half bushel of the 

 nurse crop are usually sown per acre. But the pro- 

 portions in which to blend the seed that will be found 

 the most suitable for each locality can only be ascer- 

 tained by actual test. 



Cultivation. — When the sand vetch is sown 

 alone or with some other crop, it would not seem to 

 be necessary, usually, to give it any cultivation. But 

 in some instances a light harrow may be run over 

 the land with decided advantage just before the 

 plants appear, and later the weeder may sometimes 

 be thus used also. It may, however, be sown in 

 rows and cultivated. In the plot thus grown at the 

 Minnesota University experiment station, the rows 

 were thirty inches apart. A beautiful and dense 

 mass of foliage was secured which lay along upon 

 the ground to the depth of one to two feet. The 

 yield was at the rate of 15. 1 1 tons of green food per 

 acre. But it will not pay to grow the sand vetch 

 thus, because of the labor involved in keeping the 

 land clear while the plants are young. The creep- 

 ing habit of the tendrils adds much to the labor of 

 cultivation. 



Pasturing. — Unquestionably the sand vetch has 

 better adaptability for providing pasture than for 

 providing soiling food, fodder, or green manure. 

 Nevertheless, some experiments in the southern 

 states speak favorably of its adaptation to the pro- 

 duction of soiling food and also hay. When well 

 advanced in growth it is not easily harvested, because 

 of the length and intertwining character of the ten- 

 drils. And, for the same reason, it is not easily 

 buried with the plow. If pastured off by sheep 

 when not too far advanced it should readily grow 



