OTHER LEGUMINOUS PLANTS. 



necessary even to use the harrow. But there may be 

 instances in which decided benefit will result from 

 running the harrow over the crop when it is ready to 

 push through the surface soil, and possibly also at a 

 later period. But since the vetch is a somewhat 

 tiny plant when it first begins to grow, much care 

 must be taken in harrowing the crop, or the plants 

 will be buried. 



Feeding. In climates that are moist, the feed- 

 ing of the vetch crop may begin at a comparatively 

 early period, since it will make a good second growth, 

 but in those opposite in character the wisdom of 

 such a course would be more than questionable. 

 Vetches cut before they come into bloom are highly 

 relished by swine. More commonly, however, the 

 cutting should not begin until the blossoms have ap- 

 peared, and it may be continued until the crop has 

 reached an early stage of maturity. In the later 

 stages of its growth, it furnishes very rich food, and 

 even in earlier stages it furnishes valuable food. 

 The crop may be cut with the scythe or mower, and 

 may be fed in the same manner as peas. It is 

 more easily handled than various other grain crops 

 since it is sufficiently adhesive to admit of being 

 lifted easily, and yet it is not so adhesive as to make 

 it difficult to lift a separate forkful. When fed only 

 to swine where a limited number is kept, or to sheep 

 that are being fitted for the show, it is customary, 

 and the practice is a good one, to sow the vetches 

 somewhere contiguous to the farm buildings for 

 convenience in feeding. 



When it so happens that more of the crop is on 

 hand than can be used in the green form, the surplus 



