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Vetch or tare is a nitrogen fixing leguminous plant. Although considered a weed when found growing in a cultivated grainfield, this hardy plant is often grown as green manure or livestock fodder.
Cultivation1
When intended as fodder, the seed ought to be densely sown, perhaps up to four bushels per acre (about 250 kg/hectare). However, when grown for seed, less seed should be used; otherwise the crop will be too thick thereby preventing sufficient blossoming and podding. When meant for seed, sowing should be early in the planting season for good returns; but, when for green food, any time between the first of April and the latter end of May is fine. Sometimes, a full crop can be obtained even when sown as late as mid-June, though sowing so late is not recommended.
After the seed is sown and the land carefully harrowed, a light roller ought to be drawn across, to smooth the surface and permit the scythe to work without interruption. Also, the field should be watched for several days to prevent pigeons, who are remarkably fond of tares, from eating much of the seed.
Horses thrive very well upon tares, even better than upon clover and rye-grass; and the same remark is applicable to fattening cattle, who feed faster upon vetch than upon any kind of grass or other edible plants (known to the 1881 writers). Danger often arises from livestock eating too much vetch, especially when podded; colics and other stomach disorders are apt to be produced by the excessive loads devoured.
History
Vetch has also been part of the human diet as attested by carbonised remains since the early Neolithic.
Footnotes
1initial article taken from the 1881 Household Cyclopedia
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