n. P. I.-773. 



THE PRODUCTION OF HAIRY VETCH SEED. 



INTRODUCTION. 



During the past seven years the culture of hairy vetch has increase^ 

 in the United States at least tenfold. The crop is constantly growing 

 in favor in the Southern States for winter coyer and hay. In the 

 North it is being used more and more on sandy lands and also on 

 other soils where red clover no longer gives satisfactory returns. 

 This rapid increase has been hi spite of the fact that the seed has 

 been relatively costly, the farmer rarely purchasing it as low as $5 

 a bushel, while in the last three years the seed has commanded 

 $6 to $9 a bushel. This increase in price seems to be due mainly to 

 the increased American demand, as the actual supply grown, in 

 Europe is not large and thus far but little has been produced in the 

 United States. The higher prices will doubtless tend to stimulate 

 the growing of this seed in Europe, but it can be profitably produced 

 in many parts of this country. Undoubtedly it will be economical 

 for American farmers to grow the hairy vetch seed needed locally, 

 and any surplus can always be sold at good prices. In good vetch- 

 seed sections a crop of 5 bushels of hairy vetch and 20 bushels of 

 rye to the acre can reasonably be expected, and under favorable 

 conditions 10 to 12 bushels of hairy vetch seed to the acre can be 

 grown. Even at $3 or $4 a bushel such crops are very profitable, 

 and at this price the demand for the seed would certainly increase 

 enormously. In view of this increasing demand, Ameiican farmers 

 are urged to grow seed of this crop, at least for their local use, and 

 also where the conditions prove very favorable to supply the general 

 market. Satisfactory machines are now available to separate hairy 

 vetch seed from rye. 



SOURCES OF SEED. 



At present practically all the seed used in this country is imported 

 from Russia and Germany. Table I, showing the quantity of seed 

 imported each fiscal year ended June 30 since 1905, together with 

 the import prices, is based on the record of customhouse samples. 

 It will be noted that the quantity of seed imported has increased 

 very rapidly, especially since 1908. 



3 



306991 



