VETCHES 63 



Seed is sown at the rate of 5 to 6 okes per donum and the 

 yield is normally from 8 to 12 Idles per donum. It is a 

 good drought-resister and needs no irrigation, and being 

 a leguminous plant should be cut and not pulled up, as the 

 roots left in the soil serve to increase the amount of nitro- 

 genous salts. Being a vetch it is subject to tithe. 



Tares (Vicia tenuifolia var. stenophylla) 

 This plant, locally called " mavracheron " or " phaka- 

 cheron," grows wild in the Pitsillia district among the 

 vineyards and other cultivated as well as uncultivated 

 lands. It is of value in those remote localities where grain 

 and straw are little grown and difficult to procure, as it 

 provides a wholesome fodder for cattle. The villagers have 

 now taken to cultivating the plant. It is cut before the 

 seeds are fully matured to prevent loss of seed through 

 shedding. The seeds and chaff are mixed together when 

 fed to cattle. 



Milk Vetch (Astragalus) 



This plant, locally called " arkokoutsia," grows wild in 

 some abundance among the hills. When it appears above 

 ground it is readily eaten by animals, especially sheep ; 

 but at this stage it is apt to cause hoven. As the plant 

 hardens the animals do not touch it, except when fully 

 ripe, and then it is greedily eaten. 



As soon as it blossoms, but before the fruit is set, the 

 plant is gathered and tied into bundles or small sheaves 

 and stored in a heap. When, after a few months, it is 

 quite dry, and at a time when other foods are scarce, it 

 forms an important part of an animal's ration. 



The plants are sometimes allowed to mature their 

 seeds, and these, after being steeped in water for two or 

 three days to remove acidity, are given to pigs, and are 

 considered a nourishing and palatable food. 



Moha, Sulla (Hedysarum) 



These have been tried for some years with success 

 and are gradually becoming known and experimentally 

 grown by farmers. 



