Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Milk-vetch

MILK-VETCH, or Astragalus, L. a genus of indigenous, perennial plants, consisting of 80 species: the principal of which is the glycyphyllos, Common or Sweet Milk-vetch, Liquorice-vetch, Wild-liquorice, or Liquorice Cock's-head: it grows in meadows, pastures, and on ditch-banks, where it flowers in the months of June and July.—This plant will thrive with uncommon luxuriance in poor barren soils; and yield an abundance of tender and succulent herbage. Its cultivation has, therefore, been strongly recommended by Dr. Anderson, who observes, that it would be an excellent winter-fodder for cattle, which devour it with avidity.—Cows depastured on this plant, are said to yield an abundance of rich milk; from which circumstance it has received its most proper English name.