Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 557 



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 cal- 

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



Vicia Faba, Linne".* 



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

 ticularly 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 considerably 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 gigantea, Hooker. 



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

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

 stitute 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, Roth.) 



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

 Northern Asia, extending to Japan. According to Professor Schue- 

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

 still in 63 d 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. 

 Seeds may maintain their germinating power underground for half-a- 

 dozen years [Dr. W. O. Focke]. The allied V. cordata, Wulfen,and 



