2 BULLETIN 876, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
poor soils and as a substitute for red clover, alfalfa, and the grasses 
in regions where these crops do not flourish. Hairy vetch has thus 
come to be considered as essentially a poor-land crop. It is equally 
valuable on richer soils, however, and can be used to advantage in 
any system of farming where a winter-growing forage crop is desired. 
OBJECTIONS TO HAIRY VETCH. 
Although there would appear to be innumerable opportunities 
for a crop of this character, hairy vetch has not met with the general 
popularity that its good qualities would seem to warrant. The 
consumption of hairy-vetch seed in the United States increased about 
twenty-fold in the 5-year period from 1908 to 1913, and the crop is 
now grown in some part of nearly every State. Nevertheless, hairy 
vetch is not one of the major forage crops, and the total acreage is far 
below that of several other crops of seemingly lesser value. 
A common objection to hairy vetch is that the plant is a weak- 
stemmed vine which is unable to stand upright without support. 
Unless accompanied by a companion crop to which it can cling, it is 
apt to lodge badly and to make a heavy tangled mass which is diffi- 
cult to plow under or to harvest. ‘This objection can be overlooked 
if no other forage crops are available; otherwise it is a real disad- 
vantage. 
Difficulty is sometimes experienced in obtaining a stand of hairy 
vetch, and again in exterminating it after it-is well established. 
Many other forage crops are equally troublesome in these respects, 
however, and both difficulties can be overcome by proper cultural 
methods. 
In some localities the reputation of hairy vetch has suffered from 
overadvertising and from too much emphasis on the first word of the 
name ‘‘sand vetch.” Although it is true that hairy vetch often 
makes very satisfactory growth on sandy soils, it has very definite 
limitations in this respect, and the exaggerated claims of enthusiastic 
advocates should not be taken too seriously. The name “sand 
vetch” is misleading, and its use should be discouraged. 
By far the most serious objection to hairy vetch and the chief 
obstacle to its wider utilization is the high cost of seeding. Not 
only does the seed cost more per pound than that of most other 
forage crops, but more pounds are required to plant an acre. Prior 
to 1914 the average cost of seeding an acre of hairy vetch was $2.40 
to $3.60, based on a retail price of 8 to 12 cents a pound for seed and a 
seeding rate of 30 pounds to the acre. Recently the price of hairy- 
vetch seed has advanced to 30 or 40 cents a pound, and while this is 
not greatly out of proportion to the advance on other seeds it is a 
further handicap to more general usage. In addition, hairy vetch 
must be replanted every year, which is not the case with red clover 
or alfalfa. 
