MISCELLANEOUS PLANTS. 217 



potherbs. Thousands of acres are grown annually 

 but chiefly for culinary uses. 



The author has not been able to obtain any in- 

 formation with reference to growing it for pasture 

 from an American source other than what has been 

 furnished by the Minnesota University Experiment 

 station. The experiments there conducted have 

 sustained the view that kale has much of adaptation 

 for our conditions, but not more probably than 

 Dwarf Essex rape. When sown early in the season 

 at the aforementioned station, the plants reached a 

 maximum of growth by early midsummer, and when 

 not fed soon after reaching that stage of develop- 

 ment, not a few of the leaves shrank and withered, 

 but not to the same extent as dwarf essex rape leaves 

 grown under similar conditions. When sown later, 

 the plants retained their greenness and freshness until 

 the closing in of winter. The growth was on the 

 whole not quite so rapid as the growth of rape, but 

 the pasture furnished was equally relished with rape 

 pasture. 



There is but little doubt that kale can be grown 

 with more or less success in the climate of the 

 United States wherever rape can be grown in good 

 form. It would also , seem to be equally probable 

 that it will furnish soiling food that may be fed in 

 the same way as rape. So far as tried in this country, 

 kale does not seem to have any advantage over rape 

 as a food plant, that would justify discarding the 

 latter and growing the former in its stead. 



The Sand Vetch. — The sand vetch (Vicia vil- 

 losa) is being tested by several of the experiment sta- 

 tions, more especially by those in the southern states. 



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