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Show LEGUMESGAIN FAVOR Use of Vetch for Green Manure, Forage and Cover Crops. Hairy Variety Able to Withstand Winter Win-ter Which Would KIM Common Kinds Pure Ice of Importance Impor-tance to Country Homes. In the growing popularity of legumes for use as green manure, forage and cover crops, vetch has played an Important Im-portant part. Although there are a number of species grown to some extent ex-tent In this country, the two used most extensively are the common and the hairy vetch. Of the two hairy vetch is much more hardy and can be grown in almost every part of the United States. It withstands winters which would kill the common vetch and does well on land much too poor for the other. In addition, it will stand considerable con-siderable alkali and much drought. On this account it can be grown successfully success-fully In nearly every state of the Union, but its chief importance will probably always be in regions where alfalfa and red clover do not meet the farmer's requirements. Hairy vetch has so many advantages advan-tages over the common variety that it would probably displace it almost altogether alto-gether if It were not for the fact that the seed Is 60 much more expensive. Under normal circumstances it can be said that hairy vetch seed is practically practi-cally double in price that of common vetch. This has not only checked its utilization in the United States, tret has offered an inducement for adulteration adul-teration and substitution in the seed igainst which purchasers should guard themselves. From a practical standpoint the examination ex-amination of vetch seed should determine deter-mine the following questions: (1) Is the seed common vetch (Vlcia sativa) or hairy vetch (V. villosa)? (2) Is old, dead seed present as an adulterant? (3) la other vetch seed or similar j seed present as an adulterant? (4) la the seed adulterated with low-grade low-grade screenings? (5) Are specially noxious weed seeds present? (6) Does a considerable part of the seed consist of hard eeed incapable of prompt germination? With a little experience there should be no difficulty in distinguishing between be-tween the seeds of common and hairy vetch. The common vetch seeds are Fig.1 Fig.S Fig. 1 Seeds of Common Vetch (Vlcla Sativa). (Natural Size.) Fig. 2 Seed of Hairy Vetch (Vicla Villosa). (Natural Size.) slightly flattened and the profile somewhat some-what angular. The surface is more or less distinctly mottled, some of the Beede being uniformly light brown or greenish. Hairy vetch seeds, on the other hand, are somewhat smaller, early spherical and roll readily. Ordinarily Or-dinarily their color is grayish, or leaden lead-en black, although new seed Is often faintly mottled. Perhaps the easiest way, however, to distinguish between the two varieties varie-ties Is by examining the seed 6car with a magnifying glass. In common vetch this scar takes the form of a narrow wedge, with a slight ridge of a somewhat lighter color extending along the center. In hairy vetch the scar is broad, oval wedge shaped, and there is no light-colored central ridge. although there may be a split alonj the center. After the purchaser has familiarized himself with the appearance of this distinctive scar In the seed' of hairy vetch he should be able readily to perceive per-ceive the presence not only of common vetch, but of other seede as well, in any lot that he examines. The seed tf wild vetch Is, however, somewhat deceptive, sinco it bears a strong resemblrnce to that of hairy vetch. Despito this fact careful examination will show that the seed scar differs from that of hairy vetch in being more nearly wedge shaped, black, and in having a slender but distinct ridge along the center. This wild vetch is frequently used as an adulterant In low-grade lots of hairy vetch seed. Another form of adulteration commonly practiced is the addition of small-sized seeds of common vetch, probably the result of screening. Another useful method of determining determin-ing the presence of other seeds is to mm f mm m$ af W w If 1 Fig- 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 3 Seed Scar of Common Vetch. (Enlarged). Fig. A Seed Scar of Hairy Vetch; A and B, Forms Showing White, Central Cen-tral Slit of Some Scars. (Enlarged.) crush a small handful. Crushed hairy vetch seed 6hould be of a lemon-yellow lemon-yellow color. If fawn, salmon or reddish red-dish orange pieces are found the lot does not consist of pure hairy vetch seed. The presence of old, dead seed, or of an undue proportion of hard seed, is more difficult to determine. In fact, the germination test is the only way of detecting dead seed. Instead of sprouting in four or five days after planting, each seed will merely become swollen and soft. Pure Ice of Great Importance to Country Coun-try Home. With winter approaching farmers will find it profitable to make every possible arrangement for harvesting and storing such ice as may be available avail-able in their localities. Ice is a luxury, and yet in many sections of the country coun-try it may be had for the gathering if the farmer Is prepared for the harvest har-vest at the right time. The cost of harvesting and storing Ice is not great compared with the comfort it brings, and an ample supply of this luxury Is of greater importance in the country home than in the city residence. resi-dence. Even such farmers as are not near lakes or streams often gather quite a supply of ice by putting out pans or wooden troughs filled with water and removing the Ice after the water has frozen. A special galvanized galvan-ized iron can which may be used in this way will be described later in this series. While city people may purchase perishable per-ishable supplies as needed, the remoteness remote-ness of country homes from markets makes It necessary to use more canned,-corned or smoked meat products prod-ucts at a season when the table might be supplied with other meats if there was an available supply of ice to keep It. .. Not only Is ice appreciated because of Its use in the preservation of fresh meats, butter and other table supplies, but the production of high-grade domestic do-mestic dairy products is almost impossible impos-sible without it. Many markets to which milk is now shipped demand that it be cooled before shipment to a degree not attainable without the use of ice. Modern methods of marketing show other products besides milk, such as fruit and eggs, If chilled before being be-ing taken to market, arrive in much better condition. Ice in the country home, therefore, is of value for a greater number of purposes than at first might seem. |