28 ASSOCIATED SEEDS, INC. 

VETCHES 
Vicia spp. 
Vetches are adapted and widely used to maintain soil fertility and furnish feed for 
domesticated animals, also food and cover for wild game. They are frequently 
planted to provide green manure in pecan orchards, citrus orchards, and cotton fields 
on soils somewhat low in lime. The tender and succulent vine-like growth is easy 
to cut into soil with a disk harrow, where it decays readily. 

Hairy Vetch 
COMMON (Spring) VETCH Vicia sativa 
A very early maturing, non-hardy vetch. Probably better adapted than other 
vetches or legumes to grow on moist, fertile loam soils as companion crop with 
spring grain crops for soil building, grazing, and hay. Grows rapidly during 
the cool moist periods of early fall and spring. Plants semi-viny, having slightly 
larger leaves and stems than Hairy Vetch. Has about same adaptation to climate 
as Bur-clover, but requires a much higher fertility level than Hairy Vetch. 
Seed large, pillow-shaped, speckled. 
HAIRY (Winter) VETCH Vicia villosa 
A winter-hardy variety well adapted on soils of somewhat low fertility and less 
exacting as to soil moisture requirements for successful growth. Used exten- 
sively for hay and grazing interplanted with rye, which protects the young vetch 
from cold dry winds and supports the growing vine. Also an important soil 
builder in orchards and on crop lands. Plants hairy, viny, trailing; stems ter- 
minated by bracted tendrils; flowers many and of a bluish color. Seed globular, 
medium to large, black. 
HUNGARIAN VETCH Vicia pannonica 
A rather winter-hardy sort used in the South and Southwest to furnish green 
growth for soil building, grazing, and hay on moist but fertile heavy clay soils 
where other vetches fail to. grow well. Reported to be resistant to aphid dam- 
age. Plants are less viny than Hairy Vetch, but will produce very rank growth 
without the support of interplanted small grain crops. Stems and leaves covered 
with very long, fine, hairs which give the plants a grayish appearance. Seed 
large, speckled, angled. 
