=: BULLETIN 876, U. S: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
SOURCES OF SEED. 
In former years the principal foreign sources of supply of hairy- 
vetch seed were the Baltic Provinces of Russia. Here hairy vetch 
has long grown wild and has become a more or less persistent mixture 
with growing grain, from which it is separated after thrashing. 
Hairy-vetch seed is also produced in the German provinces of East 
Prussia, West Prussia, Pomerania, and the region now forming 
northern Poland. In these districts it is grown in combination with 
rye, especially for seed. Varying quantities of German seed have 
been brought to America in years past, but the bulk of the crop of 
that country goes to other parts of Europe, where hairy vetch is 
planted for forage. 
Since 1915 considerable quantities of hairy-vetch seed have been 
brought into this country from Canada, principally from the counties of 
Norfolk and [Elgin in southern Ontario. However, seed is also sent 
from this country to Canada, but the excess of the imports from that 
country over the exports to it is approximately 20,000 pounds annually. 
The total importations of hairy-vetch seed for the fiscal years 1905 
to 1919 are shown in Table II. 
TaBLE II.—Reported annual imports of hairy-vetch seed for the 15-year period ended 
June 80, 1919. 
Total importations of hairy-vetch Total importations of hairy-vetch 
seed (pounds). seed (pounds). 
Reports of Reports of | 
the Cus- the cs 
toms Ser- : toms Ser- . 
Year. Reports of | vice to the | Petmitted Year. Reports of | vice to the | Permitted 
the Depart-| Seed duab= | nuly. under the Depart- Saadeliaie entry under 
ona “oratory the seed C ment of : oratory the seed 
) 2 importa- ommerce. ? | importa- 
Commerce.l| Depart Aone Depart Paneer 
ment of ment of 
Agricul- Agricul- 
ture. : ture. 
{Oh ee 0 See PBRDAD +) Aes ota ae a nea 1919 4,547,804 1. 1 OAT 799 |e eee 
19068 see <2 See GSE S54 le ene eae a | een ae (OTA See eae 3,405,750 | 2) 476, 749) ee eee 
LOOT Ree ae QOSS00} | Eee | Seer ee Bee WOT be eee 451,713 4655120) aa eee 
LOOSE 2 ee DADS S82\Pe- eee ee [Seeceeesene are yo) Koh ee tes |S See see oeincis Ca ee eee 67, 683 
NO QG goss es Mee 294s 896 t| Seerceoeee Se | hata. Spey eee IG eee |, Soper rary Seses ae IS eS eS 295, 600 
KEN Seige gee 549-043)| ig ee ieee 1OISEs Soe [: eee ee erates / 231, 200 
JOM SS ae Pe es 9545 020m ees aeesee se SU as wes ae LOU ae [ees eee eee ee lhe a a ne 256, 500 
1D LOSE tea. SS0s65 Tee ee See emeae | | 
1 Probably including vetches other than hairy vetch. 
Hairy-vetch seed has been produced in America since the plant was 
first cultivated here, but the real business of commercial seed produc- 
tion dates from 1915. Prior to that time a few growers in Michigan 
and in scattered localities in other States had been saving seed for sale, 
but most of the seed grown in America was simply for local consump- 
tion. Indeed, American-grown seed was not looked upon with favor 
by the commercial seed dealers, partly because it was more trouble- 
some to obtain than imported seed and partly because of the peculiar 
preferences of the seed trade for old-established sources. 
When trade with Europe ceased in 1914 hairy-vetch seed was one 
of the many articles which immediately became scarce, and a demand 
* 
7 
AM fart «Tate eee 
feat ap Rid eneaenna 
