17() THE VETCH CKOP. 



The range of soils in which vetches maybe grown is fully 

 as wide as with either of our other forage crops. Natu- 

 rally they are found preferring dry, stony, and gravelly 

 places, though they always exhibit a greater vigour of 

 growth when met with in soils of a higher quality; and 

 that power of increased development we find to exist 

 when they are seen in a cultivated state among our 

 " Farm Crops/' Although they will grow, and are grown 

 in well-nigh every description of soil under cultivation in 

 this country, still they always thrive better in the stronger 

 than in the lighter class of soils, and indeed are, from 

 their general mode of cultivation and consumption, better 

 calculated for such soils than most of the other forage 

 crops are. 



Vetches are grown for early forage or soiling purposes; 

 either for consumption on the land by sheep, or in the yards 

 or stables by cattle. If the former, they should be cut and 

 given in racks to the sheep, folded on the open dry stubble; 

 and if thelatter, each day's supply should be cut separately, 

 and carted off to the homestead as long as the crop lasts*. 

 This is generally from the beginning of -May till the end 

 of June or July, during which time even the strongest 

 clay soils would in ordinary seasons suffer no injury, even 

 should the entire crop be consumed on the land. The 

 cultivated vetch being a quick-growing plant, and having 

 large fibrous roots, which spread themselves through the 

 soil in search of food, is better suited for the medium de- 

 scription of soils, known as loams, tha^n. for either the 

 lighter, where the sand predominates, or the heavier, 

 where the clay gives the distinctive character to the soil. 

 Deep soils are, of course, cceteris paribus, always better 

 than shallow ones; the vetch, however, owing to its roots 

 being of a more fibrous character than those of the sain- 

 foin, lucerne, or even clover, does not require so deep a 

 soil, and thrives in soils too shallow for their successful 



