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3) BULLETIN No. 876 ¥ 3, 
~ ee Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry 
~ _ WM. A. TAYLOR, Chief 
Washington, D. C. PROFESSIONAL PAPER September 1, 1920 
’ 
HAIRY-VETCH SEED PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED 
STATES. 
By L. W. Kerpuart, Scientific Assistant, and Rotanp McKexs, Assistant Agrostologist, 
Office of Forage-Crop Investigations. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. Page 
Sesto maainyeVetCDinn sesnace nose sae eee 1 | Disposal of the crop in Michigan ............- 19 
Objections to hairy vetch..........-...-.---- 2 Cleaning and separating................- 19 
Possibility of cheaper seed. ........-- Secscest 3 Marke tin ps2 eer ane ee matte ss 22 
SOUNCESTONGCCU essa ete Oe ese es eee 4 Disposalofthe straws 2 s2so. oon eo 24 
Seed-producing areas in Michigan............ 5eleSeedsyieldsan Michigans-2, 5-58.02. 55.52. 24 
Growing the seed crop in Michigan...-....-. 7 | Commercial seed growing in States other than 
Soil and climatic requirements....-....-. 7 ING Chip a TTR: yal tae eA aia omen cerem ascie a eats 25 
MOC ULATION et rr eee aeons date 8 | Seed growing in the Northern States.......-.. 26 
SOHO GUO WS Gacseosssesacescoubeescoas 9 | Seed growing in the Southern States........- 26 
Wsenmethe motationee ss 52. ees seo nes. 9 Irregular crops in warm climates... .-..... 26 
ETviing CiOleSCe CIM Cees = ae aes See 11 Wsenmenhesotailonee ase eee eee 27 
Methods of seeding. ..-..........-.-.-.-- 11 Growing and harvesting....:........-.-- 28 
Rate OUSCCCIN Giese. Saeco eee es ae: 12 Marketinor a ssihe ots ones eae ee es, 28 
Use of ready-mixed seed. ........-.------ 14 | Seed saving for home use.......-.-.------.--- 29 
IES ier@R nine at MMO TEC ee ae eeeceene con seceor 14 | Hard seed and longevity___.-.......-..-:-.-. 30 
MMunreOuharnvestn Graces. --cseccce ee 1A ATI SECUS eee oe ee OER Ee meen 31 
Methods of harvesting...............--.. G3) SDISCASES ees ee Oe eee Seat oe 32 
pRnTaS hin ees ee oe a ee Sey eae USES MMIN AYA Seesee ae ste ee See 32 
USES OF HAIRY VETCH. 
Hairy vetch, also termed ‘Russian vetch,” “sand vetch,” and 
‘winter vetch,” is a hardy winter-annual legume, with wide adapta- 
tions to an unusual variety ‘of conditions and uses. It thrives in 
‘nearly all soils and climates and is probably more widely distributed 
than any other leguminous forage crop except sweet clover. It is 
used for nearly every purpose for which forage crops are employed, 
being grown for hay, pasturage, soiling, green manure, a cover crop, 
silage, andseed. The plant is especially noteworthy for its ability to 
erow on poor soil, for its resistance to cold, drought, and alkali, and 
for its comparative immunity from insects and diseases. These 
qualities make hairy vetch a valuable crop under any circumstances, 
but they have led especially to the use of the plant for building up 
183944°—20—Bull. 876 —1 
