COMMON VETCH. 129 



flowers are in pairs at the base of the leaves. They have very short 

 or no stalks. They are generally purple to rose-coloured but are 

 sometimes entirely white. The fertilization, like that of pea flowers, 

 is independent of insects, the pistil of a flower being fertilized by the 

 pollen of the same flower. Vetches are seldom cross-fertilized. 



Geographical distribution: Common Vetch is a native of 

 Europe where it is abundant except in the most northern parts. 

 It is also common in some parts of northern Africa and southwestern 

 Asia. It is not indigenous to North America but has been intro- 

 duced from Europe. Its value as a forage plant was realized by 

 the old Romans and it is now cultivated all over Europe. In Canada 

 it is grown to only a limited extent, principally in southwestern 

 Ontario. 



Habits of growth: Although peas and vetches are closely 

 related, their development is remarkably different. The main stem 

 of the pea plant grows during the whole life of the plant, but the 

 branches are less vigorous. In a vetch the main stem soon stops 

 and strong side branches are developed from the base. In this respect 

 it acts like those plants which start growth late in the season, rest 

 during the winter and finish development the next year. They are 

 called winter annuals and require a period of rest in order to develop 

 properly. With Common Vetch, which is sown in spring on account 

 of its tenderness, the resting period is very short. However, if the 

 first part of the summer is cool, the plant may remain in a typical 

 seedling stage for many weeks, thus proving its relation to winter 

 annuals. 



Varieties : Like peas, Common Vetch consists of a great number 

 of varieties, differing from each other in development, flowering 

 time, colour of flower and seed, etc. 



Agricultural value: As fodder for dairy cows, green Common 

 Vetch is highly esteemed for its nutritive value and its quality of 

 increasing milk production. It has long been a common belief that 

 it checks milk production when fed ripe, but late experiments have 

 shown that it has no unfavourable influence on either the quantity 

 or quality of milk produced. 



Seed: The seeds are round and flattened, black in most varieties 

 but grey, white or reddish in others. 



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