UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA CIRCULAR 336 November, 1934 VETCHES AND RELATED CROPS FOR FORAGE L. GORDON GOAR1 Purple vetch. INTRODUCTION In California, alfalfa is the principal forage crop, a favorite one in sections where it can be grown profitably. In many localities, however, even in the so-called alfalfa-growing areas, the bacterial wilt disease, water shortage during the alfalfa-growing season, and other factors have made this crop no longer profitable. Other large areas are entirely unsuited to the growing of alfalfa because of unfavorable climatic, soil, 1 Associate in the Experiment Station. 2 University of California — Experiment Station and moisture conditions. The need for forage crops in these areas that are unsuited to alfalfa culture has been great. In an attempt to satisfy these demands, experiments were started in 1929 in several widely separated communities (fig. 1). Most of these experiments were cooperative between individual farmers, the Agri- cultural Extension Service and the Agronomy Division of the College / #ecfJ//?f 2 Marysv///e 3 Doi/zs 4 A//cGS/o 5 O/esna 7 /{eyes 8 0eM/ 9 Mercerf /O /j/?wa/?/?ee // //sa//a /£ Saf? le//'s 0/>/s/>o Fig. 1. — Names and locations of towns nearest which the vetch and oats experiments were conducted. of Agriculture. They were designed to determine crops and varieties adapted to the various soil and climatic conditions, and the yield and analysis of each variety tried. Uniform soil, representative of the domi- nant type of the several communities, was selected for the plantings. Relatively large plots were laid out for each variety to be tried, and uniform seed was used in each locality. At some of the sites selected for these experiments, irrigation water was available; but at others, only dry-land farming could be practiced. To fill these situations, only crops that would grow during the season of greatest moisture supply and that Cm. 336] Vetches and Related Crops for Forage 3 could be expected to make satisfactory yields of good-quality feed were considered. These requirements naturally suggested the vetches and re- lated crops, which were used in these experiments. There are approximately 120 recognized varieties of vetch, less than half of which are annuals. In Europe, vetch is probably the most im- portant annual legume grown for forage; and there its high value for milk production has long been recognized. Field peas are also used ex- tensively in some sections of California, being preferred by many grow- ers. Although numerous varieties of vetch and peas are in use, experi- mentation has shown that we need be concerned with relatively few, and that common vetch, purple vetch, hairy vetch, and Austrian Winter peas meet the requirements in most sections of this state. It should be clearly borne in mind, however, that no one variety is adapted to all conditions. Purple vetch succeeds under normal conditions in the interior valleys, and is better adapted to coast conditions than are other varieties. It has succeeded in every test in Marin County near the coast, while other va- rieties such as common vetch and Austrian Winter peas have been variable and at times have failed almost completely. The experiments indicate that it is the most dependable variety for the coastal region. Common vetch succeeds in the interior valleys and in the foothill sec- tions and is more winter-hardy than purple vetch. Hairy vetch is en- tirely winter-hardy and succeeds under California temperatures. It is especially adapted to the lighter soils, making satisfactory yields in this respect where other varieties fail. If the crop is to be grown on sandy or other coarse-textured soil, or in sections of low winter temperatures, or on slightly alkaline soil, hairy vetch will give better results than other varieties. Austrian Winter peas, like common vetch, succeed on a va- riety of soil types provided the drainage is good. They are especially adapted to the interior valleys and to the foothill sections and are more winter-hardy than other varieties of peas. SEED-BED PREPARATION The seed bed for vetches should be firm, but well prepared. In dry-land sections, summer-fallowed land should be worked lightly after the first rains in the fall. This procedure destroys the first weed crop and puts the soil in good condition for seeding to vetch immediately. In irri- gated sections where rainfall is late, the land should be pre-irrigated about October 1. This arrangement permits disking or spring-tooth harrowing and rolling, floating, or otherwise smoothing the surface in time to plant the vetch by October 15. Normally, in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, on soils of good moisture-holding capacity, the 4 University of California— Experiment Station crop will mature without additional irrigation. When rain ceases early in the season, an irrigation in April is sometimes necessary. On lighter soils in these areas, a total of three to five irrigations is often necessary to produce a good yield. Both in the coastal regions and in the foothill sections, good yields are usually produced with normal rainfall. TIME, METHOD, AND RATE OF SEEDING Because the vetches and peas succumb to hot weather and because the natural rainfall should be utilized in supplying moisture, seeding should be done in the fall. In the interior valleys the proper time is October or November. If the crop is to be used for both pasture and hay, the date should be not later than October 20. In the coastal region and in the foothill sections, planting may be delayed with some degree of safety. In Marin and Alameda counties, plantings made in December and as late as January 1 have produced satisfactory yields. In the unirrigated areas the common practice is to delay seeding until after the first rains. If, however, the land has been summer-fallowed, and if weeds are not a menace, the seeding may be done in the "dust." This method has been practiced with success at Ahwahnee during the past two years. Drilling is the best method of seeding because it distributes the seeds more evenly and places them at a more uniform depth in the soil; the result is better germination and stand. The depth of seeding should vary from 1% to 2% inches according to moisture conditions. Peas and hairy vetch may be planted somewhat deeper if necessary. If no grain drill is available, the seed may be broadcast and covered by means of a disk harrow. The rate of seeding depends upon the variety used. Under favorable conditions, according to these experiments, the planting of 12 vetch seeds per square foot, or 1 seed to each 12 square inches, will result in a satisfactory stand. This is equivalent to 522,720 seeds per acre. In order to adjust the drill easily to this rate, the number of seeds dropped per foot of drill row should correspond to the number of inches between the drill rows. For example, if it is 6 inches between the drill shoes, each shoe should distribute 6 seeds per foot of drill row, or one seed should drop each 2 inches. If it is 8 inches between the disks, then 8 seeds should be dropped per foot in each drill row, or one seed every 1% inches in each row, and so forth. Field peas having larger seeds and larger plants than the vetches re- quire more space and fewer seeds. With the larger types of peas, such as Canadian Yellow, 6 seeds per square foot will produce an excellent stand. The more slender viny types, as the Austrian Winter and Tan- gier pea, may be planted slightly thicker. Cie. 336] Vetches and Related Crops for Forage 5 Table 1 is useful in determining' the number of pounds required to plant the given number of seeds per acre recommended for the several varieties herein discussed. When grown for hay, silage, or soiling, the vetches and peas are usually mixed with seeds of one of the cereals, and the two are planted together. For this purpose, oats are more commonly used, although rye, wheat, or barley are occasionally preferred by the growers. In these ex- periments only Kanota oats and common rye have been used. The main TABLE 1 Average Size of Seed and Pounds Kequired to Plant One Acre Variety- Length, millimeters Width, millimeters Thickness, millimeters Number of seeds in one pound Pounds seed to plant one acre 4.812 4.237 3.425 4.587 4.075 5.312 6.387 6.612 4.675 4.675 3 425 4.462 4.737 5.187 5.975 4.975 3.725 3 550 3.200 2.937 3.687 4.712 5 712 3.500 7,100 9,400 16,000 10,440 10,180 4,620 2,590 5,300 73.62 Purple vetch 55.61 32.67 Monantha vetch 50.07 51.35 83.00 100.91 Tangier pea 76.00 purpose of the cereal is to support the vetch, thus preventing it from becoming wet and slimy near the ground, and to facilitate harvesting. Only general recommendations can be given here regarding' the amount of cereal seeds to be used in mixtures for this purpose. On fertile soils of the loamy type where oats tiller or stool heavily, 10 pounds of oats per acre in mixture with vetch or peas is usually sufficient. If the soil be light or if for other reasons the oats tiller but little, then the rate of seeding oats should be increased to 15 or 20 pounds per acre — in some rare cases even to 25 pounds. If rye is substituted for oats in the mix- ture, from 15 to 25 pounds per acre should be used, according to the soil type and upon the ability of the rye to tiller. If the cereal grain is mixed with the vetch or pea seeds before planting, the mixture should be stirred frequently in the process of drilling, to prevent the lighter seeds (especially the oats) from rising to the top of the seed box, thereby causing an uneven stand. If the aim is to produce hay of the highest possible feeding value, the cereal should be used sparingly in the mix- ture, only sufficient oats or other cereal being added to support the vetch and prevent it from lodging. University of California — Experiment Station HARVESTING Vetch is best for hay when cut in full bloom. Oats make good hay if cut when the grain is in the soft-dough stage. When common, purple, or hairy vetch or Austrian Winter peas are used in combination with Ka- nota oats, the ideal stage of maturity for both the legume and the cereal is reached simultaneously in most sections of California. For this rea- son, vetch and oats make a very good combination. Many growers have found vetch difficult to harvest with the ordi- nary mower and for this reason have discontinued growing it. Most of the difficulties formerly encountered, however, have recently been over- come by the use of several attachments designed for the ordinary mower. These attachments include : outer divider, stub guards, high fender rod, hitch shield, serrated sections, windrower, tongue truck, short cutter bar, and long grass rod.2 Two or more of these attachments will be found advantageous in harvesting any crop of vetch. The outer divider and stub guards should always be used. The number and combination of other attachments will depend on the condition of the vetch crop to be harvested. Vetch leaves dry much faster than the stems. Unless, therefore, the hay is handled rapidly in the field, there is considerable loss of leaves by shattering. Usually one day in the swath is sufficient; then the hay is put in shocks to complete curing. Several of the vetch varieties, notably hairy, monantha, and calcarata volunteer readily if allowed to mature seed before harvesting. Growers are therefore warned not to allow vetch to mature seed when it is to be followed with a cereal grain crop. There is no danger of its becoming a weed in grain fields, however, if it is harvested before the seed pods be- come filled. YIELDS The yield of vetch and oat hay that one may secure in California de- pends, of course, on a number of factors. Yields may vary in the differ- ent localities from 1 to 5 or more tons per acre. Tables 2 and 3 show yields pertinent to these experiments. Both early and late plantings were made at Davis, the early plantings about October 20 and the late plantings November 20. In the Davis early plantings, the severe cold of 2 Bainer, Koy, E. A. Torpen, and J. P. Fairbank. Attachments for mowers to cut vetch. Agr. Engin. Infor. Ser. No. 6. 9 p. (mimeographed.) California Agr. Ext. Service. 1934. Cir. 336] Vetches and Related Crops for Forage TABLE 2 Pounds Hay per Acre, Produced by Vetch-and-Oat and Pea-and-Oat Mixtures, Obtained in Five-year Trials Variety Yield, 1930 Yield, 1931 Yield, 1932 Yield, 1933 Yield, 1934 Average yield Davis (early planting) Austrian Winter pea and Kanota oats Common vetch and Kanota oats Hairy vetch and Kanota oats Monantha vetch and Kanota oats Purple vetch and Kanota oats Woolypod vetch and Kanota oats 5,839 4,296 5,357 5,626 5,188 11,494 12,396 10,588 10,975 13,588 8,121 9,185 10,559 8,755 8,518 12,406 10,976 10,377 8,365 11,315 9,465 9,213 9,220 9,365 9,762 5,188 Davis (late planting) 5,284 5,061 5,314 6,429 7,333 11,190 10,932 10,612 10,211 8,237 7,996 7,963 8,320 7,333 Delhi Austrian Winter pea and Kanota oats Common vetch and Kanota oats Hairy vetch and Kanota oats Purple vetch and Kanota oats Woolly pod vetch and Kanota oats 7,313 10,835 7,510 9,518 4,753 4,427 6,065 5,688 5,831 2,892 2,578 3,973 2,887 1,621 3,385 3,239 3,088 4,772 5,495 5,361 7,674 Nicasio Austrian Winter pea and Kanota oats Canadian Y'ellow pea and Kanota oats ... 8,517 10,573 6,181 7,406 7,934 6,743 5,507 4,169 5,925 4,607 7,602 7,012 7,620 7,366 6,524 6,756 7,150 7,454 6,491 6,179 7,431 6,946 Pleasanton Austrian Winter pea and Kanota oats 10,143 6,263 6,834 6,755 6,405 6,848 5,973 6,527 4,767 4,522 6,359 5,802 7,859 6,712 4,623 6,449 5,678 7,814 8,966 9,098 7,506 6,103 7,963 7,909 6,342 Woollypod vetch and Kanota oats 6,527 8 University of California — Experiment Station 1932-33 is clearly reflected in the yields of the several varieties. Con- siderable winter killing was observed in the pnrple vetch plots, slight damage in the common vetch and Austrian Winter peas, bnt no damage in the hairy vetch. The average yield of purple vetch was higher than for other varieties in the tests at Nicasio, Marin County, and at Pleas- anton, Alameda County; but at Delhi, Merced County, the sandy soil type is plainly reflected in the yield, and hairy vetch easily yielded more than any other variety in the test. These data tend to emphasize the im- portance of selecting varieties suited both to the soil and to the climatic conditions under which the crop is to be grown. TABLE 3 Pounds Hay per Acre, Produced by Vetch-and-Oat and Pea-and-Oat Mixtures, Obtained from One- year Trials Ahwah- Marys- San Luis Variety nee* Keyes vine Merced Redding Obispo Visalia Austrian Winter peas and Kanota oats 4,269 7,893 4,706 7,365 7,637 Common vetch and Kanota oats 4,294 8,677 5,245 6,613 7,284 8,535 5,239 10,175 4,848 5,760 6,023 7,240 5,985 Monantha vetch and Kanota 4,191 5,218 5,785 5,522 8,019 Purple vetch and Kanota oats 8,470 5,933 6,395 Woollypod vetch and Kanota oats 10,403 5,422 4,781 6,895 7,347 5,303 * The yields for Ahwahnee are the average of the 1933 and 1934 crops. FEEDING VALUE There are no data in California regarding the feeding value of vetch. Judging, however, from the chemical analysis of numerous samples col- lected from the several localities where these experiments have been conducted, no legume rates higher in feed value (tables 4 and 5). A number of dairymen in the state, especially in the coastal region, have used vetch and oat hay exclusively for a number of years, and unhesi- tatingly praise it as feed for dairy cows. Table 4 shows the average composition of several of the vetches and peas when grown and harvested in mixture with oats, as previously described. Oat, rye, and other cereal hay is much lower in protein than is vetch or pea hay. The higher the percentage of cereal used in the mix- ture, therefore, the lower the protein content will be. This fact is clearly illustrated by comparing table 4 with table 5, which shows the compo- sition of the legumes and cereals analyzed separately. Cm. 336] Vetches and Related Crops for Forage DESCRIPTION OF VARIETIES Common Vetch. — This vetch (Vicia sativa), also called Oregon vetch and spring vetch, is probably the best known and most commonly used variety in California. It is adapted to a rather wide range of soil and climatic conditions. It does best on the finer-textured clay and clay -loam TABLE 4 Average Composition of Legumes and Kanota Oats Grown, Harvested, and Analyzed in Mixture; Davis, 1931 and 1932 Variety Austrian Winter pea and Kanota oats. Calcarata vetch and Kanota oats Common vetch and Kanota oats Hairy vetch and Kanota oats Purple vetch and Kanota oats Woolly pod vetch* and Kanota oats Protein per cent 9.90 13.81 11.69 12.74 15.56 10.20 Ether extract Crude fiber Nitrogen- free extract per cent 4.51 per cent 24.90 per cent 50.99 2.88 32.65 41.38 3 08 3.72 30.88 28.76 44.09 45.01 3.52 28.80 42.01 3.79 28.83 47.22 Ash per cent 9.70 9.28 10.26 9.77 10.11 10 02 * Grown in 1931 only. TABLE 5 Composition of Legumes and Cereals Analyzed Separately as Grown at Davis, 1932 Variety Protein Ether extract Crude fiber Ash Nitrogen- free extract Phos- phorus Calcium Ratio phos- phorus to calcium per cent per cent per cent per cent per cent per cent per cent Austrian Winter pea 18.93 3.50 24.66 13.61 39.30 0.259 0.600 1:2.317 Canadian Yellow- pea 16 34 4.78 21.91 5.85 51 12 .259 .688 1:2.656 Common vetch. . 18.67 2.01 27.19 11.50 40.63 .305 .857 1:2.810 Hairy vetch 20.93 2 51 21.68 8.87 46 01 .227 .918 1:4.040 Purple vetch 20.15 2 61 29.68 10 15 37.41 311 .838 1:2.695 Kanota oats 6 09 3 32 31.56 10.62 48 41 0.168 0.164 1:0.976 Common rye 6 14 1.83 33.34 6.68 52 01 soils; but good crops have been grown on the sandy loam and even on somewhat gravelly soils. Whatever the nature of the soil, it must be well drained. Common vetch will withstand temperatures as low as 10° F above zero with little or no injurious effect. Since it quickly succumbs in hot weather, it should be planted in the fall and harvested in the spring. There are several subspecies of common vetch all varying consider- ably as to size and color of seed. The most important of these subspecies and the one most commonly used in California has relatively large gray 10 University of California — Experiment Station seeds mottled with a darker color. The plants of this variety grow to a height of 3 to 5 feet or more. The leaflets (fig. 2) have a pinched-off ap- pearance, with the midrib extended. Usually there are seven pairs of leaflets with a terminal tendril. The violet-purple flowers are borne in Fig. 2. — Common vetch. pairs on very short stalks. The stems and leaves are relatively smooth (not hairy). When properly cured, this variety makes hay of good quality. Common vetch is intermediate in growth during the winter months. In cold weather it makes more growth than hairy vetch, but less than purple vetch. When fall-planted in a mixture with oats, rye, or barley, it affords considerable pasturage in the late winter and early spring. If sufficient moisture is available and the stock is removed in March, a Cir. 336] Vetches and Related Crops for Forage 11 good hay crop may be harvested, usually in May. Vetch should never be pastured too closely if a hay crop is expected. Calves and sheep appar- ently do the least damage in pasturing vetch. Purple Vetch. — This variety {Vicia atropurpurea) is adapted to the same soil conditions as common vetch. It succeeds best near the coast, where it produces even larger yields than does common vetch. In addi- tion, it makes considerably more growth during the cool weather of win- ter than any other standard variety. It is less winter-hardy than com- mon vetch and under average conditions will not survive temperatures lower than 15° F above zero. Like common vetch, it is an annual and should be fall-planted. The stems grow to a length of 3 to 6 feet or more. The leaf has seven to nine pairs of leaflets, long, oval, and terminated by a tendril. The leaflets and, to a lesser extent, the stems are covered with numerous fine hairs, which give the plant as a whole a silvery-grayish appearance. Unlike common vetch, the flowers of this variety are borne in showy clusters of twenty or more purple flowers, which hang more or less to one side of the flower stem (see frontispiece). The seeds are a solid, velvety black, with a conspicuous raised white scar at the point where they were attached to the pod. They are somewhat smaller than common vetch seeds and are fairly uniform in shape and size. Purple vetch is readily eaten by livestock, both when used as a pasture plant and when cured into hay; its feeding value is high. Hairy Vetch. — The vetch, Vicia villosa, has several common names — sand vetch, winter vetch, Russian vetch, Siberian vetch, or hairy vetch. In several respects it differs from the common and purple varieties. It is annual in habit of growth when fall-planted. Although especially adapted to sandy and sandy-loam soils, it succeeds on most soil types, provided the land is well drained. Being more winter-hardy than other varieties, it is seldom, if ever, winter-killed in California. It is more drought resistant and more alkali-tolerant than other varieties, often yielding well under adverse conditions where other vetches fail. During the cool winter months, it makes very little vegetative growth, but its tremendous root development during this period accounts for its resist- ance to drought. The limited early top growth, however, makes it of lit- tle value for winter pasture. The plants grow very rapidly in the spring, the stems frequently attaining a length of 12 feet. Because of its viny nature, it seldom attains a height of more than 3 or 4 feet unless grown with oats or some other supporting crop. From 9 to 17 pairs of narrow leaflets constitute the leaf, which is terminated by a tendril. Twenty to thirty blue-violet flowers are borne on one side of a long flower stem (fig. 3) . The stems and leaves are characterized by many relatively long hairs. The seeds, small, spherical, and nearly black, are very irregular 12 University of California — Experiment Station in size. This variety would, no doubt, be more generally used were the seed not comparatively high-priced. Smooth Vetch. — Smooth vetch (Vicia villosa), though not used in these experiments, has certain commendable characteristics. In adapta- Fig. 3. — Hairy vetch. tion to soil and moisture conditions, and in general habit of growth, it is almost identical with hairy vetch. The seeds of these two varieties are indistinguishable, and much imported seed of smooth vetch has been sold under the name hairy vetch. Smooth vetch is winter-hardy, but not to the same extent as hairy vetch. The plants of the smooth variety have Cm. 336] Vetches and Related Crops for Forage 13 Fig. 4. — Monantha vetch. 14 University of California — Experiment Station fewer hairs on the leaves and stems, and smaller flowers of a more red- dish-purple color. Under average California conditions this smooth va- riety is probably equal in value to hairy vetch. Woollypod Vetch. — Among the vetches having the same requirements and adaptability as hairy vetch, is woollypod vetch (Vicia dasycarpa) . It has no special advantages over the former except that under favor- able conditions it matures a few days earlier. The leaves and stems are slightly hairy ; and the purple flowers are borne in clusters on long, one- sided flower stems. The seeds are usually slightly larger than those of hairy or smooth vetch, and are oval instead of round. Because the seed is exceedingly scarce, the price is high. Growers are not justified, however, in paying more for it than for hairy vetch. Monantha Vetch. — One of the very early-maturing varieties is monan- tha vetch (Vicia monantha) . Soil, moisture, and date of planting being the same, it will have fully developed seed pods by the time the pre- viously described varieties are in bloom. It grows well during the cool weather, but is less winter-hardy than other standard varieties except, perhaps, purple vetch. It may be used to advantage as a late-winter or early-spring pasture crop. It matures too early to be used in combina- tion with the cereals, and is the most difficult of the vetches to harvest for hay. It is a heavy seed producer and, when pastured after the seed pods are well filled, affords feed of high protein content. Having many small, weak stems, it does not ascend without support. The leaf is made up of seven or more pairs of very narrow, blunt-tipped leaflets and is terminated by a tendril. Single pale-blue flowers are borne on long stems (fig. 4). The seeds, somewhat smaller than those of common vetch, are lens-shaped, almost circular, and decidedly flattened. The ground color is buff with irregular darker markings. This variety is adapted to most soil types provided they are well drained. Calcarata Vetch. — This vetch (Vicia calcarata), sometimes also called Bard vetch, is another rapid-growing, early-maturing variety. Although adapted to a wide range of soil types, it does not succeed on sandy soils. It also develops too rapidly to be grown in combination with oats or other cereals for hay, but may be used as a pasture crop. In sections where moisture is available, it may be planted in August or September and pastured in November or December. In the Imperial Valley, it makes excellent growth as a winter crop, but in other parts of the state the growth is often short and unsatisfactory when late plant- ings are made. Like monantha vetch, calcarata is a heavy seed producer; the pods do not split lengthwise and spill the seeds as do most other va- rieties. Very little seed is available, but the amount could be quickly increased if a demand should arise. This variety has rather narrow leaf- Cm. 336' Vetches and Related Crops for Forage 15 lets, seven or more pairs, and a tendril constituting a leaf. The stems and leaves are smooth, with a grayish cast. The bluish flowers, larger than in monantha, are usually borne in pairs on a long flower stalk (fig. 5) . The seeds are about the same size as monantha seeds, but irregu- Fig. 5. — Calcarata vetch. lar in shape. Their width and length are almost the same; but they are less flattened and are often indented. The color is brown, with darker specks and markings; a distinctive dark stripe runs down the back. The seed scar at the point of attachment is white and raised. Austrian Winter Pea. — The Austrian Winter pea (Pisumarvense) prefers loams and clay loam soils, but will succeed on most soil types if 16 University of California — Experiment Station well drained. This variety is more winter:hardy than other field peas and is adapted to the conditions described for common vetch. Being a very viny type, with small, weak stems, it will not ascend without a Fig. 6. — Austrian winter pea. supporting crop, such as oats or rye. Like most other winter-hardy an- nuals, it grows very little during the cool winter months, but rapidly in the warmer spring weather. These peas make hay of very good quality, but, having larger and more succulent stems than the vetches, are some- what more difficult to cure. This variety should be fall-planted and spring-harvested, as it quickly succumbs under high temperatures. The Cir. 336] Vetches and Related Crops for Forage 17 flowers, rose to lavender in color, are borne singly or in pairs on long stems. Usually two leaflets and a tendril constitute the leaf (fig. 6) . The seeds are considerably larger than in common vetch and are almost Fig. 7. — Tangier pea. spherical. They are pale green to brown, covered with numerous specks of a darker coloring. The black seed scar is relatively small. For hay production under California conditions, the Austrian Winter field pea is by far the most promising variety of peas. Canadian Yellow Pea. — Another variety of Pisum arvense is the Ca- nadian Yellow pea. It is adapted to the same soil and climatic conditions 18 University of California — Experiment Station as described for common vetch and the Austrian Winter pea, except that it is less winter-hardy than the latter variety. Under California conditions, however, they may be safely planted in the fall. They make more growth during the fall and winter months and mature earlier in the spring than the Austrian Winter pea. The short, thick stems and abundance of early-maturing seed pods make this variety difficult to cure for hay. These peas are an excellent spring pasture crop, however, especially for pasturing to hogs. Three pairs of leaflets and a tendril make up the leaf. The white flowers are borne in pairs and threes on relatively long stems. The buff or cream-colored seeds are almost round and are considerably larger than Austrian Winter pea seeds. The Tangier Pea. — An annual legume of much the same character of growth as the Austrian Winter pea is the Tangier pea (Lathyrus tingi- tanus). In appearance it is similar to the garden sweet pea, having winged stems, relatively narrow leaflets, and showy pinkish lavender flowers, borne usually in pairs but sometimes in threes on long stalks. The leaves are short, having but two leaflets and a branched tendril (fig. 7) . The brown seeds are slightly flattened, having inconspicuous darker markings. The white seed scar is long and narrow. The Tangier pea is adapted to most soil and climatic conditions in California and has made satisfactory yields in a number of trial plantings. It makes palatable and nutritious hay; but because of the scarcity and high price of the seed, it has been used but little commercially. 15m-ll,'34