Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/140

* VETANCUBT. 106 VETERINARY MEDICINE. histdricos, poh'ticos, militares y religiosos (2 vols., 1697-98). Much of the work is based upon that of Torquemada, but it is nevertheless of great value. A reprint of the Teatro, etc., was issued at Mexico in 1870-71 as vols, vii.-x. of the Bihlioteca Iheria. VETCH (OF. veche, vesse, vesce, Fr. vesce, from Lat. vicia, vetch ; connected with Gk. PiKiov, bikion, vetch, Lat. vindre, to bind). A name properly applied to the genus Vicia, but also loosely related to other genera of the natural order Leguminosse. There are numerous species, mostlj' climbing annual, biennial, and perennial herbs, natives of Europe. Northern Africa, West- ern Asia, and America. Their cultivation for seed and for forage dates back to the Romans. At the present time they are cultivated to a con- siderable extent in Europe and certain species are gaining favor in the United States. The crop can be grown on a wide variety of soils, but heavy well-tilled soils produce the best yields. They are generally grown with a cereal crop which serves as a support and keeps them off the ground. The annual species most commonly cultivated in Europe is the common or spring vetch or tare (Vicia saliva). In the United States this species, which is very susceptible to dry and hot w'catlier, has not given general satis- faction. One of the best species introduced in- to the United States is the hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), an annual which has been successfully grown in various sections of the country. Hairy vetch is sown in August and September when in- tended for winter forage, and in regions where the winter is not too severe it will grow again in the spring and produce a verj' early crop. For summer forage it is somi from the middle of April to the middle of May. The yield of hay HAIBY VETCH ( VicUl vUlOSa). varies from 2 to 4 tons jx-r acre. See Plate of UsEi'-i'L l.EGUMKs with article Leoumino.s.ic. Some of the most important species not be- longing to the genus Vicia are kidney vetch, or horned pod clover (Anthyllis vnliicraria), winter vetch (Lathyrtis hirsutus), and Dakota vetch illosackia I'urshiana) . Kidney vetch is a per- ennial found wild in Europe on dry, thin soils with calcareous subsoil. Its cultivation originat- ed in Germany about 40 years ago. The yield of hay is usually quite small. Winter vetch is a valuable species in southern latitudes, wlicre it furnishes forage late in autumn and early in spring. In the United States it is not hardy north of the latitude of 40°. Dakota vetch is a common bushy annual, native to the Rocky Mountain region of the Northwest, affording pasturage and hay in its wild state. Both green and cured vetches are fed to farm animals. Un- cured spring vetch cut in bloom and seed has the following average per cent, composition: Water, 83.9; protein, 4.0; fat, 0.6; nitrogen-free extract, 6.3; crude fibre, 3.2; and ash, 2.0. Hairy Vetch: Water, 68.7; protein, 5.2; fat, 1.3; nitrogen-free extract. 14.7; crude fibre, 7.7; and ash, 2.4. Vetch hay contains: Water, 11.3; protein, 17.0; fat. 2.3; nitrogen-free extract, 36.1; crude fibre, 25.4; and ash, 7.9 per cent. Like other legumi- nous crops, vetch is comparatively rich in pro- tein. VETCH, Samuel (1668-1732). The first Brit- ish Governor of Nova Scotia, born near Edin- burgh, Scotland. In 1705 he was sent by Gov- ernor Dudley of Massachusetts to Canada to negotiate a treaty of neutrality and arrange for an exchange of prisoners. A plan for the cap- ture of Canada proposed by him in 1708 was ac- cepted by the British Government, but was never carried out. Subsequently, as the representative of the colonists, he induced the Government to undertake an expedition against Arcadie. Vetch was one of the conniianders of this expe- dition, and after the capture of Port Royal in October, 1710, he became Governor of the con- quered territory, part of which was now renamed Nova Scotia. In 1711 he was besieged in Port Royal by the French, but was relieved by the ap- proach of a British squadron. In 1712 he was superseded as Ciovernor by Sir Francis Nichol- son, but was again Governor in 1715-17. He died a prisoner for debt in London. VETERAN LEGION,. Union. A patriotic organization, organized in Pittsbtirg, Pa., in March, 1884. The simple requirements for ad- mission to the Grand Army of the Republic (q.v. ) had led to criticism, and in consequence the Union Veteran Legion requires for admission to membership that the applicant must have vol- unteered prior to July 1, 1863, for a term of three years and have served his full term of en- listment unless discharged by reason of wounds. There are organizations in 21 States and the District of Columbia, and about 150 local bodies known as encampments, with a total membership of nearly 20,000. It has as an auxiliary an or- ganization of women known as Ladies of the Union Veteran Legion. VETERAN UNION, Union. A patriotic society founded in Washington, D. C, in 188G. Membership is extended to veterans who served honorably in the army, navy, or marine corps of the United States between" April 12, 1801. and April 30, 1865, who participated in one or more engagements or battles, and received an honor- able discharge. There are about 70,000 mem- bers. VETERINARY MEDICINE (Lat. rr/criH«- rius, relating to beasts of l)urden, from vclprina, reteriiiinii. beast of burden, old, experienced, from rrliix. old). In the earliest historical times men depended closely on domesticated aninuils for food and transportation. Much attention was there- fore devoted to a studv of the nature and Tueans of combating :iiiimal plagues. From the first the caiises of animal diseases were grossly misunder- .stood, on account of the prevalence of super-