Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/297

VET into barrels, where it undergoes a fermentation for 10 or 12 days ; after which it is fit for the pur-, pose. Verjuice is principally used in sauces, ragouts, &c. though it sometimes forms an ingredient in medicinal compositions, especially in farriery } and is also. employed by wax-chandlers, for purifying that substance. — When intended for sale, it is subject to the same du- ties as Cyder and Perry. Vermillion. See vol. i. p. 527 j and vol. ii. p. 36. Vernal-grass. See Spring- grass. VERVAIN, the Common, or SiMPLERs Joy, Verletia officina- lis, L. an indigenous plant, grow- in waste places, on stone walls, and the sides of roads j flowering in the months of August and Sep- tember. — This plant is eaten by sheep, and its flowers are visited by bees. The roots impart a very agree- able taste to pickled cucumbers. — • Among the ancients, the Simplers Joy was dedicated tolsis, the god- dess of birth } and, though at pre- sent exploded in medicine, Hoff- man asserts, that the most inve- terate and violent head-ach may be cured, by filling a bag with the leaves of Vervain, in a dry state, and applying it around the throat of the patient, VETCH, or Tare^ Vicia, L. a genus of plants comprehending 30 species, of which 8 or 9 are indi- genous -y and the following are the inost remarkable, namely : I. The sylvatica, or Wood Vetch, grows in woods and hedges, especially in mountainous situations ; where it -flowers in July and August, attaining the height of from two to four feet, II. The Crqcca, or Tufted VET [267 Vetch, is frequent in shady places, meadows, and fields ; flowers in the months of July and August.— Both, this and the preceding spe- cies, are said to restore we.ik or starved cattle to their former strength, more speedily than any other vegetable hitherto discovered. III. The sfpium, — See Bush Vetch. IV. The^afivff, Common Vetch, Fetch, or Tare, thrives in dry meadows, pastures, and corn-fields, where it flowers from April to June. This species is one of the most valuable of the Vetch kind, and is divided into three varieties, namely : 1. "The Summer Vetch, is raised from seed, which is usually sown toward the end of March, or early in April, in the proportion of 8 or 10 pecks per acre, broad-cast; though, when drilled, half that quantity is sufficient, and the crc^ will be greatly superior. This va- riety is chiefly propagated and used for weaning lambs and sheep, as well as for soiling horses and cows : its seeds atford an excellent food for pigeons. — Bees obtain a copi- ous supply of honey from the young leaves of this plant, which are marked with black, and the spots of which contain a delicious sac- charine juice. 2. The JFinter Vetch, is sown in the month of September, in the same proportions as the preceding sort ; a small quantity of beans, or (which is preferable) of black oats, being intermixed, to support the plants ; which are generally co- vered with long dung, to pres^ve them from the frost. — ^This variety is subservieut to the same purposes as theSummer Vetch : when plough- ed into chalk-lands in the month of May, it serves as an excellent ma- nure