Imperial Valley Press

Seeding demonstrations to show the proper methods for planting the new pasture and hay crop of purple vetch and oats were conducted Friday afternoon at Meloland Experiment station by L. G. Goar, superintendent.

This new crop, developed last winter at Meloland, has such excellent possibilities for farming in Imperial Valley that hundreds of acres are being planted to it this fall. In answer to many requests for information as to seeding methods, Goar held this demonstration which was attended by so many farmers that cars lined both sides of the long station driveway to the road.

Goar demonstrated two methods of seeding, one by broadcasting the seed and the other, by use of a grain drill attached to the tractor.

The latter method is more satisfactory, he said, since by this means seed is planted at a more uniform depth and distance assuring a better stand for the amount of seed used.

With the grain drill two mixtures of vetch and oats were demonstrated: one using six pounds of vetch to one of oats and seeded at the rate of 55 pounds to the acre, and the other, of four pounds of vetch to 1 1/2 of oats, seeded at the same rate. The latter mixture is better if the crop is to be pastured since it has a larger cereal quantity.

This new pasture crop provides a long felt need since it can follow spring and summer crops and is out of the way in the spring in time for planting of corn and similar crops.

It can be pastured twice during the winter after which a cutting of hay may be obtained, or it may be grown entirely for hay. In either case it provides a winter feed crop which has the added advantage of being a soil conserving crop.