VETCH, TARES. 149 



Experiments have been made with this grass, and though 

 so valuable in France as to be called sacred, it has not 

 proved a success here. It requires two or three years to 

 arrive at maturity, and during that time has to be watched 

 closely, or it will be choked up with weeds or grasses. It 

 does not yield as much hay as either red clover or lucerne, 

 but is of a very superior kind, and is much vaunted as a 

 good butter making hay. It does not give cows the hoven,' 

 however much they may eat of it. Its seeds are also said 

 to be superior to oats, and more nutritious, and are very 

 fine for fowls, inciting them to lay. It does best on lime- 

 stone soils, though succeeding well on gravelly or sandy 

 land, and will stand a large amount of heat, though not 

 much cold. It would probably suit the country further 

 south better than Tennessee, though I have seen it growing 

 in Stewart county, having been brought there by a Swiss 

 family. It would probably grow on all our calcareous soils. 



VETCH, TARES— (Vicia Americana). 



Flowers, several or many on a slender peduncle ; pods several seeded^ 

 with ten to fourteen oblong, and very blunt, veiny leaflets, and purplish 

 flowers over one-half inch long. 



This legumen is common throughout the whole United 

 States, though sparingly raised in Tenifessee, from the fact 

 that the ordinary cow or stock pea answers our purpose 

 equally well for all kinds of stock, and is a savory food for 

 man, and on this account the latter will be treated further 

 on under the head of Cereals, both of man and beast. 



This closes the chapter on meadow grasses, cultivated or 

 experimented with in Tennessee. There are many others 

 which may be worthy of a trial. 



