HAIRY-VETCH SEED PRODUCTION. 25 
From 5 to 6 bushels of hairy vetch in 25 to 30 bushels of mixture 
per acre is considered a very satisfactory yield, comparable to 25 
bushels of wheat or 150 bushels of potatoes. A common way of ex- 
pressing this is to say that a good crop of rye should contain 20 per 
cent (12 pounds) of hairy vetch per bushel. Nearly all farmers 
secure such yields in occasional years, but only the most expert 
growers average that quantity. Probably the average yield approxi- 
mates 15 to 20 bushels per acre of mixed seed, containing 5 to 8 
pounds of hairy vetch to the bushel. This is equivalent to 13 bush- 
els of rye and 2 bushels of hairy vetch for the lower yields, or 17 
bushels of rye and 3 bushels of hairy vetch for the higher yields. 
With reasonable success one should be able to exceed the latter fig- 
~ ures at least once in three years. | 
The profits from growing hairy vetch and rye are increased con- 
siderably by the use of improved varieties of rye, such as Rosen or 
Mammoth White, which commonly yield at the rate of 25 to 30 
bushels-per acre. At the present time the seed of these varieties, if 
pure, sells for about twice the price of ordinary rye, on account of 
being in great demand for seeding purposes. Some effort is re- 
quired to produce pure-bred rye seed, since rye, unlike wheat, crosses 
very readily, and the improved varieties therefore must not be 
grown within half a mile of other rye. The extra care is well worth 
while, however, in view of the greater returns. 
COMMERCIAL SEED GROWING IN STATES OTHER THAN MICHIGAN. 
Only a small proportion, probably not more than 5 per cent, of the 
commercial stock of hairy-vetch seed in the United States is pro- 
duced outside of Michigan. In favorable years some localities grow 
more than they can use, and their surplus goes on the market. <A 
few farmers in widely scattered communities make a regular business 
of growing market seed. In no other State, however, are there any 
hairy-vetch seed centers comparable to those in Michigan. 
As far as is known at present, hairy-vetch seed can be produced 
commercially in any section where the crop is used. Apparently 
there are no localities better fitted than others for growing the seed. 
Further experience may show that certain soils and climates are 
superior or that the seed from some parts of the country is better 
than that from others in germination, vitality, or freedom from weeds | 
and diseases. If such proves to be the case, these areas will become 
the large producers of market seed. For the present, however, the 
only reasons why the hairy-vetch seed industry centers in Michigan 
are because the plant was well known there when the demand for 
seed arose and because market facilities have been developed for 
handling the crop. 
