OTHER LEGUMINOUS PLANTS. Ill 



This plant has not yet been given the high place 

 in our agriculture which it deserves. As a food 

 plant it possesses excellent qualities, is less susceptible 

 to injury from frost than the pea and is even more 

 palatable and nutritious. It can be grown in various 

 combinations, and is capable of making a second 

 growth in some localities, though not in all, if cut 

 while immature. And when the conditions are 

 favorable it can be grown with much success as a 

 pasture plant, as a soiling food, or as hay for winter 

 feeding. The relatively high price of the seed has, 

 probably more than anything else, hindered the 

 growing of this crop for soiling food. This should 

 not be so, as in states favorable to the growth of the 

 vetch, abundant yields of seed may be obtained. 



The common vetch furnishes excellent food for 

 all kinds of live stock kept upon the farm. When 

 fed freely to cows in milk, the yield is increased. It 

 has a peculiar adaptation for stimulating growth in 

 lambs that are being given a forcing diet, and 

 no kind of soiling food is more highly relished by 

 swine. 



The product will of course vary much, but 

 when grown alone the common vetch will run from 

 about ten to fifteen tons per acre. When grown in 

 combination with other plants, the return will be 

 influenced by the nature of the combination. 



Distribution. The common vetch can be grown 

 with greater or less success in every state in the 

 Union and in every province of Canada. It makes 

 the most complete growth, however, in cool and 

 humid climates. The provinces of Canada from 

 Lake Huron eastward, and the north Atlantic states 



