506 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



there still in 63 26 '. One of the best fodder-plants, but only of 

 one or two years' duration. Praised particularly for dairy-cattle 

 by G. Don. This plant according to Middleton has yielded as large 

 a crop as 12 tons on an acre, cut green. Horses thrive remarkably 

 on it. Important also for green manure and as a companion of 

 clovers. The allied Y. cordata, Wulfen, and Y. globosa, Ketzius, 

 are similarly cultivated in Italy [Langethal]. Many of the other 

 European and Asiatic species of Yicia are deserving of our atten- 

 tion. Sir John Lawes and Prof. J. H. Gilbert enunciated recently 

 their remarkable discovery, that nitrogenous constituents are largely 

 increased in leguminous plants, notably also Yetches, through 

 development of nodules at their roots by micro-organisms, the free 

 nitrogen of which being fixed during the ^process of assimilation. 

 This symbiosis can probably be aided by extraneous action in so far 

 as bringing nodulated roots or their surrounding soil for initiation 

 of the growth of the microbes to the spots of culture. 



Vicia sepium. Eivinus. 



Europe, Western and Northern Asia. A perennial Yetch, endur- 

 ing an alpine clime ; indigenous in Norway northward to lat. 69 

 40 '. It might with advantage be naturalized in forests and on high 

 mountains, but it can also readily be subjected to field-culture, the 

 yield being large and nutritious in regions with humid air, though 

 the soil might be poor. This vetch can be kept continually on the 

 same field for about fifteen years [Langethal]. Y. Paniionica, 

 Jacquin, is an allied but annual species. 



Vicia Sitchensis, Bongard. ( V. gigantea, Hooker.) 



From California to Sitka. Dr. Asa Gray remark?, that the young 

 seeds of this tall vetch are eatable like green peas. 



Vicia sylvatica, Linne. 



The Wood- Yetch. Europe, Northern -Asia. Indigenous in Nor- 

 way to lat. 67 56'. Perennial. Recommeiidable to culturists 

 settling in new forest-land ; available also for growth in sub-alpine 

 copses. Pasture-animals have a predilection for this vetch ; its 

 yield is large and very nourishing. In limestone-soil of forests 

 Y. pisiformis and Y. dumetorum, Linne, can best be selected for 

 introduction. 



Vicia tetrasperma, Koch. (Ervum tetraspermum, Linne.) 



The Lentil-Tare. Europe, Western Asia, North- Africa. Annual. 

 According to Langethal this species is preferable to the ordinary 

 tare for sandy soil. It is also less hard as fodder and very palat- 

 able. Lime in the land enlarges the yield. Y. monantha and Y. 

 hirsuta (Koch) serve nearly as well. 



