Ch. XV.] • ON VETCHES. - 221 



tliem, as forage, until we treat of that subject, and now consider them 

 merely as pulse grown for seed. 



When intended for that purpose, we have to notice another species known 

 as the " white vetch,'' botli the seeds and flowers of which are white, and the 

 grain is said to be both more succulent, as well as to become earlier ripe 

 than the two former: it is also better adapted to light soils, and stands the 

 winter extremely well ; but it is not generally cultivated. The most usual 

 mode of growing vetches for their grain is to sow them as a spring crop; 

 and their management is in every respect so similar to that of the field 

 pea, that any detail would be a mere repetition of what has been there 

 stated. It may, however, be mentioned, that they are more frequently sown 

 broad-cast, and that beans are also sometimes intermi.xed with the vetches 

 to support them, like sticks to garden pease ; the produce being easily sepa- 

 rable by proper riddles after it has been thrashed. It should also be ob- 

 served, that the winter species, after being cut before the blossoming has 

 been completed, is then sometimes left for seed, though the crop is rarely 

 so large as that produced in the other mode, and there is not perhaps a fort- 

 night's difference between their time of ripening. Most farmers recom- 

 mend early spring sowing, but we have known many instances in which those 

 sown about the beginning, and even towards the middle of May, have 

 turned out the best. If the temperature be cold, vegetation is stopped, and 

 then the plant is attacked by an insect which gnaws its buds, and, unless 

 the soil be rich, prevents it from again sprouting into flower ; whereas late 

 sowing generally prevents that injury. 



The soil required for the common species ofvelch should be clayey : when 

 it contains more than about si.xty per cent, or three parts in five of sand, the 

 plant will rarely succeed unless ihe land be wet and well manured, or very 

 moist. Although this will be found correct when the crop is to be cut 

 green, yet when meant to stand for seed, a drier soil should be preferred, 

 and the land will produce better if it be limed ; for it is known by experi- 

 ence, that a rich loamy soil occasions the plants to throw out a succession 

 of blossoms, which cause the grain to ripen unequally*. It does not, 

 however, require very rich land ; though it should be always well dressed 

 and in clean condition. 



The seed is rather smaller than that of the grey pea ; and, as when 

 grown for seed, it should be sown more sparingly than when intended 

 for soiling, 2h bushels per acre are sufficient. The crop is reaped, carried, 

 stacked, and thrashed in the same manner as pease, and it is supposed that 

 the grain contains nearly the same nutritive properties ; but it is seldom 

 used for any other purpose than seed. The quality of the haulm has been 

 vaunted by some writers, and cattle, when starving, may eat it ; it is how- 

 ever so tough, as to be fit for little else than litter. The produce 

 fluctuates extremely both in quantity and price ; for it varies from two 

 quarters to five per acre, and from 5^. to \'2s. per bushel f : last year and 

 this spring the price, near London, has been about 6s. 



The commonlentil is of the same family as the vetch, which it in many 

 respects resembles, and is said to be the most nutritive leguminous plant 

 with which we are acquainted*. It is largely grown throughout the south 

 of Europe, and has been repeatedly tried in some parts of England, in which 

 it has been thought of rather favourably, and is there generally known 



* Gen. Rep. of Scotland, vol. i. y, 550. 



t Both Messrs. IMiddletoa and Alalciilm say lliut tlioy have known 5^ Quarters grown 

 on an acre, and the price at a guinea the bushel. Middlesex Kep., 2nd edit., p. 257 ; 

 Surv. of Sussex and Surrey, vol. ii. p. -382. 



I Von Thaer, Triuc. Kais. d' Agric, 2de eJ., torn. Iv. ^ 1096. 



