Tl6 FORAGE CROPS. 



The vetch is of several species. But two of 

 these, however, would seem to have been grown to 

 any very great extent by the inhabitants of Anglo- 

 Saxon speaking countries. These are the common 

 vetch and the sand vetch, and they are the only 

 kinds that will be included in the present discussion. 

 They will be considered separately, because of the 

 distinctive differences in their habits of growth and 

 also in general adaptability. 



The common vetch includes the sub-varieties 

 known as winter and spring vetches, respectively. 

 These would seem to have sprung from one and the 

 same variety. The differences which now charac- 

 terize them have probably been brought about by the 

 different season at which they have been sown. The 

 former have best adaptation for climates where the 

 winters are mild. The latter, though best adapted 

 to climates with cool summer temperatures, will also 

 grow reasonably well in warm climates if sown early 

 enough in the season. 



The common vetch bears no little resemblance 

 to the common pea in its habits of growth. But the 

 vetch is more slender, has more tendrils and leaves, 

 the leaves are more serrated, it bears its pods rather 

 in clusters than singly or in pairs, and it grows more 

 persistently when grazed or eaten off by live stock 

 at any time previous to maturity. The seed is also 

 smaller and is of a brown or black color. The flow- 

 ers are purple. 



Vetches or tares, as* they are sometimes called, 

 are much relished by live stock of all classes, and 

 there are but few kinds of food that are equally suit- 

 able for the animals of the farm. They are excel- 

 lent for milk production and their fattening proper- 



