

242 CULTIVATION OF PLANTS. 



rather troublesome in the rotation of crops, by its tenacity of 

 life." The learned Doctor thinks the blue grass of our pastures 

 is an introduced plant. That it is a native plant we entertain 

 no doubt, yet at the same time it may be indigenous to other 

 countries. The Domestic Encyclopaedia says that it is par- 

 ticularly proper for soiling, and that it will bear close and 

 frequent mowing. 



32. Tares. 



The tare, Vicia sat'iva, is one of the most esteemed of the 

 forage plants of England. It is an annual, very hardy, and has 

 been cultivated in Europe from time immemorial. It said to 

 be a native of Europe, where, according to RAY, a celebrated 

 botanist, it was most extensively cultivated in 1686; but we 

 presume that although so extensively diffused over that con- 

 tinent, it was originally introduced from Japan. We find 

 mention made of it by the Jesuit missionaries who visited 

 Japan and other islands in 1686. It is now cultivated with 

 much success in various parts of the United States. It is a sort 

 of pea, of which there are several varieties, one of which is dis- 

 tinguished by producing yellow seeds; two kinds only are cul- 

 tivated in Europe the winter and the spring tares. 



The tare, by being sown in autumn or in spring, acquires 

 habits so different, that many have supposed the spring and 

 winter tares, as they are called, to be different species. They 

 are, however, says Professor Low, from whom we quote, the 

 same species, and do not even constitute botanical varieties. 

 But from the different habits of ripening which they acquire, 

 the}'' should be always sown at the periods to which they are 

 respectively suited that is, the winter tares should be sown in 

 autumn, and the spring tares in spring; for repeated experi- 

 ments have shown that spring tares sown in autumn will fre- 

 quently perish in the first frosts, while the winter tares remain 

 uninjured. 



ARTHUR YOUNG says, in one of his Essays, "the cultivation 

 of the tare is extending every year its importance is better 

 understood. The author of this Essay," he continues, "feels 

 both pleasure and pride in having been the first person who 

 raised them on a large scale, and publicly recommended them 

 to the notice of agriculturists. Now, in 1821, after thirty 

 years experience of their utility, it would be difficult for him 

 to say more in their favour than they deserve. But he takes 

 leave to observe that they may be made one of the principal 

 means of enabling the arable farmer to support as much live 

 stock as the grazier. For during the time they occupy the 



