362 VICIA PISUM. 



7 years in succession. It is employed for soiling, for pasture, or 

 made into hay after the manner of red clover. The seed is sold 

 in two forms, that covered with the short, wrinkled pod, and 

 that which has been separated from the pod. 



In England it is considered A very suitable forage plant for cal- 

 careous soils. 



Although an old plant, and so well and favorably known in 

 Europe, I cannot learn that it has met with even moderate suc- 

 cess in any portion of this country. The seed has been widely 

 distributed by the Department of Agriculture. In Central 

 Michigan we have not been able, even with the best of care, to 

 raise respectable samples. 



Yicia, L. Vetch, Tare. Of this genus of legumes there are 

 quite a number of species native to this country, and manv in 

 Europe. Like the last mentioned, sainfoin, it has had repeated 

 trials in various portions of the United States, and yet we do 

 not know that it has really succeeded anywhere. To those not 

 familiar with vetches, it may be enough to say in this connection 

 that they are much like peas, with slender leaflets and small 

 stalks, flowers and seeds. 



A writer in Morton's Cyclopedia says: "Of the artificial 

 grasses it is next to clover in value. Sheep fatten faster upon 

 this than any other herbage ; horses improve more rapidly upon 

 it than on clovers or the grasses; horned cattle thrive surpris- 

 ingly upon this fodder ; cows yield more butter from the tare 

 than from any other provender ; pigs voraciously consume and 

 prosper upon it. They may be cut twice a year, and are much 

 used for soiling. In quality they much resemble lucerne. At 

 Lansing, Michigan, they make a weak growth, and will not en- 

 dure the hot, dry weather. It is not improbable that some of 

 our native vetches could be improved and adapted to cultivation. 



Pisum, L., Pea. To this small genus of two species, belong 

 the numerous races of cultivated field and garden peas. They 



