842 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Part III. 



tare are elliptic, and rounded or notched at the end, but in the winter tare linear and drawn to a point. 

 The leaves on the branches which afterwards issue below, and in time form the bulk of the plants, are the 

 same in both vetches. But, whatever the difference may be, it is evident that the seeds of the two sorts 

 ought to be kept separate ; since each sown out of its proper season is found not to prosper. 



5260. New varieties of tare may be obtained by the usual means ; and it is thought that some of the 

 numerous species of this plant, which are natives of Europe, might be cultivated with advantage. The 

 French cultivate a variety which they call Vesce blanche, or Lentilledu Canada, Ficia sativa alba. They 

 include also among their forage vetches Ficia angustifblia, Crdcca, P.setido- (7r'cca, bi(5nnis, s^pium, and 

 liltea. The Ficia narbonensis and serratif61ia are cultivated in Germany. Dr. Anderson has recom- 

 mended the V. s^pium ; and a writer in The Bath Agrtcuttur/d Transaction:^, the V. Crdcca. Some species 

 of Z,&thyrus, robus, and E rvum might probably also be tried with success. 



5261. In choosing between the spring and winter tare, every thing must depend on the intention of the 

 crop. If the object is to have early feed, the winter variety is undoubtedly to be preferred ; but where the 

 land is foul and requires to be two or three times ploughed in spring, or where a late crop is desired, or a 

 crop for seed, then the spring variety will generally deserve the preference. 



5262. The soil preferred by the tare is a clay, but they will grow in any rich soil not 

 over dry. In a moist climate, the haulm grows so luxuriant as to rot at bottom ; and 

 in one over dry it is deficient in length. A dry season, however, is on the whole more 

 favourable than a racist one, as this crop soon covers the surface. 



5263. The preparation of the soil seldom consists of more than one ploughing, if for autumn sowing; 

 and of a winter and spring ploughing, when to be .sown in spring. If in the latter case the land is very 

 foul, several plou'^hiiigs are given, or one ploughing and several stirrings with the cultivator In 

 general, tares succeed some of the corn crops. In England manure is sometimes given either with a 

 view to eating them oS" early, and following with a crop of turnips, or to enriching the soil for a crop 

 of wheat. 



5264. The time of sowing depends on the kind of tare, and the purpose in view. 



5265. The winter variety is sown in September and October ; and the first sowing in spring ought to be 

 as early as the season will permit. If they are to be cut green for soiling throughout the summer and 

 autumn, which is the most advantageous method of consuming them, successive sowings should follow 

 till the end of May. Summer tares, when meant for seed. Brown observes, ought to be sown early, 

 " otherwise the return will be imperfect ; but when for green food, any time betwixt the first of April 

 and the latter end of May will answer well, provided crops in succession, from the first to the last-men- 

 tioned period, be regularly cultivated. Instances are not wantmg of a full crop being obtained even 

 when the seed was sown so late as the middle of June, though sowing so late is a practice not to be 

 recommended. In Middlesex, the winter sowings are commenced about the beginning of August: in 

 the northern counties no winter.sowings are made, as the tare there will not endure the severity of 

 that season. 



5266. The mode of sowing tares is mostly broad-cast, which should be performed as 

 evenly as possible over the surface of well-prepared land ; the seeds being afterwards 

 covered in by proper harrowing, in order to prevent their being picked up by birds, and 

 ensure their perfect vegetation and growth. It has been suggested, however, that, in 

 rich clean soil, it is probable the row-method would succeed well with this sort of crop, 

 which, as Marshal states, is the practice in some of the southern districts of the island. 

 After the seed is sown, and the land carefully harrowed, a light roller ought to be drawn 

 across, so that the surface may be smoothed, and the scythe permitted to work without 

 interruption. It is proper also to guard the field for several days against the depreda- 

 tions of pigeons, who are remarkably fond of tares, and will pick up a great part of the 

 seed, unless constantly watched. 



5267. The quantity of seed to an acre is from two and,a half to three and a half bushels, 

 according to the time of sowing, and to whether they are to be consumed green or left to 

 stand for a crop. 



5268. When tares are intended for seed, less seed is required than when they are grown for soiling or 

 for drying the haulm. A writer in The Farmer's Magazine (vol. i.) has suggested, that the most pro- 

 ductive method of sowing this crop, when intended for seed, is to mix them amongst beans when drilled, 

 at the rate of one firlot of tares to one boll of beans. From trials made it is ascertained, it is said, that 

 the quality of the tares is vastly improved by being blended with beans, as, by clinging to the latter, they 

 are kept from the ground, and' enjoy the full benefit of the sun for ripening them in a perfect manner ; 

 and they are in this way much easier harvested than when sown by themselves. They answer, at the 

 same time, for bands to tie the principal crop ; and the produce may, on an average of seasons, be con. 

 sidered as at least double. A little rye sown with winter tares, and a few oats with the spring sort, not 

 only serve to support the weak creeping stems of the tares, but add to the bulk of the crop by growing up 

 through the interstices 



5269. In the choice of the seed it is hardly possible to distinguish the grain of the winter from that of 

 the spring variety : the former is alleged to be rather smaller and lighter coloured ; but the only reliance 

 must be on the honesty of the vendor. Plump seed, and a sample free from the seeds of weeds, will of 

 course be selected, whatever be the variety. 



5270. The after cultxire given to tares consists merely in pulling out the larger weeds, 

 unless they are in rows, in which case the horse or hand hoe is applied ; or intended for 

 seed, in which case weeding must be more particularly executed. 



5271. In reaping tares for soiling they ought always to be cut with the scythe, as the 

 sickle, by breaking asunder the stalks, and tearing up a number by the roots, renders the 

 second crop of little value. When mown early, they will in a moist season produce three 

 mowings, but generally two. In reaping tares for seed, they may be either mown or taken 

 with the sickle, and treated like peas in drying, stacking, and threshing. 



5272. Tares are eaten of the gronnd in some places by different kinds of live stock, 

 particularly by sheep ; and as the winter-sown variety comes early in spring, the value 

 of this rich food is then very considerable. The waste, however, in this way, even 



