76 FAMILIAR WILD FLOWERS. 



and although they be wild, yet where the dove-houses are 

 served herewith they also will resort and become tame with 

 the rest, and therefore some conn trey people knowing it sow 

 some fields therewith to serve to that use." It does not 

 seem to have been commended by the ancients either as a 

 meat or a medicine for mankind " they yeeld a 

 thicke clammy nourishment and hard of digestion/' and 

 instead of curing, as most things do, almost every evil 

 under the sun, the medieval physicians are content to 

 commend it merely for use as " a pultis." 



When grown as a field-crop the plant has a decidedly 

 rich and luscious appearance, and we can readily enter into 

 the feelings of a cow who has a reputation to keep up with 

 the dairy-maid when she turns from even the fragrant but 

 decidedly dry-looking hay to the manger full of the cool 

 and succulent-looking vetches. 



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