BOOK II. X. 33-35 



days as vetch, near the time of the equinox ; the 

 other, however, at the end of January or early in 

 February, when it is sown for seed ; though we use 

 six modii to the iitgerum for the latter sowing, and 

 seven for the former. Both sowings are made not 

 without advantage before the ground is prepared, 

 and care is taken that it be ploughed closely but not 

 deeply, for if the seed is covered more than four 

 fingers deep it does not easily come up ; and for this 

 reason some people break the ground with the 

 smallest ploughs before sowing, and then scatter the 

 seed and cover it with light hoes. 



Bitter vetch, on the other hand, thrives on soil that 34 

 is lean but not moist, because it is usually spoiled by 

 rankness. It may be sown in autumn and equally 

 well after the winter solstice, in the latter part of 

 January or all of February, if only before the first 

 day of March. This whole month, farmers say, is 

 not suited to this legume, because when sown at this 

 time it is harmful to cattle, and especially to oxen, 

 in which it causes brain-madness when they eat it." 

 It is sown five modii to the iugerutn. 



Crushed chickling-vetch instead of bitter vetch is 35 

 given to oxen in Hispania Baetica * : after being 

 broken by a suspended <= millstone it is soaked for a 

 time in water, until it becomes soft, and in this 

 condition, mixed with sifted chaff, it is fed to cattle. 

 But twelve pounds of bitter vetch are sufficient for 

 one yoke, and sixteen of chick-pea. This same 

 chick-pea is not unsuited to human use, and 

 is not unpleasant; in taste, at least, it differs not 

 at all from the chickling-vetch, being distinguished 

 merely by its colour, for it is more dirty-looking 



' I.e. set for coarse grinding. 



