Naturalisation in Extra- Tropical Countries. 505 



Vicia Cracca, Linne. 



Europe, North -Africa, Northern and Middle Asia, North- America ; 

 in Norway it extends to lat. 71 10 '. Perennial. Recommendable 

 for naturalisation as a fodder-plant in sylvan and sub-alpine lands. 

 It yields in shade a return three times larger than in open places 

 [Laiigethal]. A. Carlsson speaks of it most favorably as fitted for 

 wet meadows, after extensive cultural experiences in Finland. 

 Lauded as most nourishing to cattle by Dr. Plot of Staffordshire. 

 The cognate V. Cassubica and V. biennis (Linne) serve also for 

 field-culture. 



Vicia Ervilia, Willdenow. (Ervum Ervilia, L.) 



South-Europe, North- Africa, South- Western Asia. An annual 

 herb, praised as a valuable fodder-plant, particularly fit for dry 

 calcareous soil. Cultivated already at Troja [Virchow, Wittmack]. 



Vicia Faba, Linne.* 



The Straight Bean, called also Common Field-Bean. Orient, 

 particularly on the Caspian Sea. Professor Schuebeler found it to 

 bear seeds still in lat. 67 17'. Was cultivated already at Troja 

 [Virchow, Wittmack], and during the stone-age in Hungary [A. 

 de Candolle]. Dressing land with sulphate of iron increases con- 

 siderably the crop [A. B. Griffith]. Bees resort to the flowers of 

 this plant also. This productive annual herb not only affords its 

 seeds for table-use, as Broad Bean and Windsor-Bean, but provides 

 also a particularly fattening stable-food, in its common form the 

 Horse-Bean. Continued and unmixed feeding with this bean causes 

 however finally paralysis in domestic animals. The seeds contain 

 about 33 per cent, starch. V. Narbonensis, L., from South-Europe 

 and South-Western Asia, is preferable for the table, because its 

 seeds contain less bitter principle, though they are smaller. They 

 will retain their vitality for six years or more. 



Vicia g-ig-antea, Hooker. 



Western North-America. A tall perennial Vetch, serving as a 

 good fodder-herb, and affording in its young seeds a wholesome 

 substitute for peas. The plant fits particularly forest-regions [Asa 

 Gray, T. Christy]. 



Vicia peregrina, Linne. 



South-Europe. Annual. In Italy preferred to- the ordinary Tare 

 for sandy soil ; recommends itself also for its close growth. 



Vicia sativa, Linne.* (V. angustifolia, Both.) 



The ordinary Vetch or Tare. Europe, North-Africa, Western 

 and Northern Asia, extending to Japan. According to Professor 

 Schuebeler it will grow in Norway to lat. 70; it perfected its seeds 



