TUFTED VETCH. 35 



equivalent of the gap that during the winter takes its 

 place. As the hedge is not ours, the summer beauty much 

 more than compensates for the winter's blank, but our 

 neighbour, the farmer, may probably hold another opinion. 

 In the same way the honeysuckle, that looks so charming 

 as it encircles the trees, plays sad havoc with the younger 

 ones, for its long flexible branches bind with great power, 

 and we have often seen young shoots deeply furrowed by 

 them. 



The author already mentioned, we see, commends the 

 tufted vetch to the farmer as affording an excellent fodder 

 for cattle ; and, on turning to other old authorities, we find 

 that he is not singular in his estimation of its value. It 

 is said to be hardy, durable, nutritious, and productive: 

 but its deficiency in weight as a crop will always make it 

 inferior to lucerne, though the latter is affirmed to be 

 actually less nutritious. The tufted vetch will never 

 prosper without support, and this fact makes it unsuitable 

 for a field-crop ; the " purple tassels of the tangling 

 vetch " will probably therefore continue to play their part 

 as a graceful hedge tapestry, and in this fulfil their 

 mission. Westmacott, writing in 1694 of this plant, says 

 that "some are seen, though not usually, in most places 

 of England, and benefit the Land, as other pulses, and are 

 rather to be preferred for Fodder than any other use they 

 can be put unto. Others are wild, and do no good, but 

 spoil the corn they spring in, yet feed and advance Cattel 

 well, saith one, that are almost starved, and are frequently 

 found in Pastures and Meadows." 



The root of the tufted vetch is perennial and creeping. 

 The stalk, as we have pointed out, varies greatly in length, 

 but three feet might be taken as a fair average ; it is 



