AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 157 



excellent in consequence of the large amount of sulphur which 

 it contains this being an important element in wool. 



370. LENTILS are rarely or never cultivated in the United 

 States except as a garden plant. The seed has been distributed 

 (1853) by the Patent Office; and in this manner this useful es 

 culent may become better known. In the south of Europe 

 and in Asia it enters largely into the food of the people. There 

 are several varieties of it, distinguished by the color of their 

 seeds, the greater or smaller growth of their stems, and the 

 earhness of their period of ripening. 



377. The Lentil requires a somewhat light soil and warmth. 

 It is greatly less productive of straw than the pea and the bean, 

 and the produce of seed is also comparatively small. There 

 could be no benefit in introducing it into field-culture in this 

 country. In gardens, it may be cultivated as peas are. 



378. The TARE or VETCH is largely grown in Great Britain 

 as a forage-plant, for which purpose it is much esteemed. In 

 the United estates it does not appear to be usually cultivated, 

 though it will prosper in the northern States. There are sev 

 eral species and varieties ; and in situations where grass is defi 

 cient, and regular rotations of crops are employed; or where 

 grass fails early in the season, as on many of the Prairies, this 

 crop would prove beneficial. All animals are fond of it, and 

 all thrive on it in an eminent degree. Hogs may be fattened en 

 tirely on it. It causes milch cows to give more butter than any 

 species of green food ; and horses can be kept fat on it. 



379. In Europe it is sown both in autumn and in spring, but 

 in our Northern States, it would necessarily be a spring crop 

 only. It requires land in good condition and free from weeds. 

 In Scotland, manure is always given it, and the land is well 

 worked. It possesses the advantage of growing on all classes 

 of soils. It is generally sown broadcast, at the rate of 3 to 4 

 bushels per acre ; but oats are frequently mixed with it, when 



