Cultivation of Arable Land. EuJJi Vetch Utility of. Tufted Vetch. 393 



ftate for the fuccefsful culture of that crop, as it requires a r.ither clofe texture of 

 the land. 



There are oth~r fperies of this genus of plants that may, probably, be intro 

 duced into cultivation with benefit to the farmer, either in the view of affording good 

 pafturage, or as fupolying large quantities of green food, though they have not 

 yet been fufficiently fubjected to the teft of experiment either in foiling, feeding 

 or pafhmng of animals, to fully decide on their merits or utiliry. 



The Buffi Vetch (Viciajepitun) is a fpecies of tare that promifcs much advantage 

 as a pafture plant. Its routs are faid to fpread much laterally juft below the furface, 

 and to fend forth numerous ftems in thr fpringof the year clofe to each other,- which, 

 as they have a broad-tufted top covered with many leaves, a clofe pile is formed 

 without any other plant. It does not rife to any great height ; but from its fpring- 

 ing up very quickly after being cut or cropped, it feemsto be properly adapted for 

 pafturage. On fertile foils, however, it grows to a fufficient height for the purpofe 

 of hay. As the ftalks grow fo clofely together, there is, however, danger of its 

 rotting at the root in moift feafons. Though it produces abundance of feeds, they 

 are very apt to be deftroyed in the pod by infects in their vermicular ftate. It 

 appears to fucceed belt in clayey foils, and abounds pretty much in foliage, afford 

 ing feeds fimilar to thofe of the common tare.* It has been obferved to moot 

 earlier in the fpring than any other plant eaten by cattle, and to vegetate late in the 

 autumn, continuing green all winter. A fmall fpace in a garden was fown with it 

 in drills, and in the fecond year cut five times, producing at the rate of twenty-four 

 tons per acre of green food, which would be nearly four and a half tons when dry. f 



The chief difficulty in the introduction of this plant arifes from the caufes Hated 

 below. 



Mr. Swayne has remarked that, though very palatable to cattle, great difficulty 

 arifes in the cultivation of it on a larger fcale, from the larvx of a fpecies of atte- 

 labus frequently devouring the feeds.J 



And the Tufted Vetch, (Vicia cracca) from its rifing to a confiderable height 

 in the ftem and affording much foliage, might likewife be ufed for the purpofe of 

 eating as a green fodder, as the produce would be confiderable, and the plant is 

 eafily cultivated. It would alfo yield a great deal of hay. It has been obferved 

 to improve the condition of poor lean cattle beyond any other plant. 



* Anderfon s Effays, vol. II. f Bath Papers, vol. III. 



\ Withering s Botanical Arrangement, vol. III. Plott s Natural Hiftory of Statfordfliire, p. 204.. 



VOL. Ji. 3E 



