COMMON VETCH. 117 



from the superficial gravel to the deep, stiff clay ; 

 yet on gravelly loams, when too much moisture does 

 not prevail, it flourishes most vigorously. 



In the vicinity of London, some years ago, as high 

 as one hundred dollars per acre has been realized by 

 farmers from the sale of tares io people who used to 

 make them up in bundles of thirty pounds each, and 

 retailed them to trades people who kept horses about 

 the metropolis. 



In this manner, the product of a vast number of 

 acres was consumed, with great advantage to the 

 farmer. 



Vetches are being successfully cultivated in the 

 Middle or Eastern States. Winter vetches cannot be 

 sown too early after the oat crop has been harvested, 

 though they may be sown through the months of 

 August, September, and the early part of October. 

 If the soil be poor, or the situation elevated and ex- 

 posed, sow in August, and upon every farm on which 

 they are cultivated, it is advisable to sow some of 

 them early and others late, in order to have a succes- 

 sion of green; food the ensuing summer. Spring 

 vetches produce rather a lighter crop than the winter 

 sort, and are subject to more risk from a dry sum- 

 mer. There is no difference in their use or value per 

 ton ; but the spring coming to maturity two or three 

 weeks later, makes it convenient and advisable to 

 grow some of each, in order to have a succession of 

 them for green food all the "summer. They may be 

 sown all the spring and summer, from April until the 

 middle of July ; but the success of late sowing will 

 depend upon the showery season. After ploughing 

 for winter vetches, spread (if not already ploughed 

 in) manure or fertilizer, and sow your vetches upon 



