26S llORTUS GllAMINIiUS WO BLl UN EN S I S. 



from a clayey loam in an exposed situation is 10,890 lbs. 

 per acre. 



This species of vetch is chiefly confined to woods and 

 hedges in its natural state : I have found it in two instances 

 amons: the herbage of initiated meadows. When growino- 

 among bushes, a space of ground equal to that above men- 

 tioned, afforded 48 oz. of herbage, or three times the weight 

 of that cultivated in an open situation. Dr. Plot, in his 

 History of Staffordshire, says, that this and the vicia si/lvalica 

 advance starved or weak cattle above any th'ng yet known ; 

 and Dr. Anderson, in his Essays, speaks highly of this plant. 

 It is inferior to common tares {vicia sylvatica) in the quantity 

 of nutritive matter it affords, but contains much less super- 

 fluous moisture. This must give it a superiority, in regard 

 to nutrient properties, over tares, which contain an excess. 

 But it has a strong creeping root, that will always prevent its 

 admission to arable lands. It might be best cultivated on 

 tenacious soils, and used after the manner of lucern, than 

 which, though greatly deficient in the weight of the crop, it is 

 nevertheless more nutritive. 



Flowers about the middle of -July and the beginning of 

 August, and the seed is ripe at the beginning of Sep- 

 tember. 



VICIA sylvatica. Wood Vetch. 



Specific churacler : Fruit-stalks many-fiowcred ; leaflets 

 elliptic; stipula crescent-shaped, toothed. 



OOs. — Stems running to a great height in the bushes 

 where it grows, and spreading widely, so as to choke its 

 supporters. Leaves of six or nine pair of leaflets, mostly 

 alternate. Stipulae in pairs, small, deeply divided into 

 several awl-shaped segments. Flowers whitish, with 

 beautiful pencil-streaks of blue. Pods lanceolate, 

 smooth, pale brown. 



Native of Britain, and most parts of Europe, from Sweden 

 to the south of Italy ; also of Siberia. Boot j)eren- 

 nial. 



