Tim Gilbert, age 12, of Pocatello, Ids., for his question:

ARE THERE MANY KINDS OF VETCH?

Vetch is a climbing, leguminous herb. There are mere than 1U0 species of this plant and they are native to almost all of the temperate regions of the world.

Vetch is widely cultivated for food, fodder and as a fertilizing or cover crop. Most species are climbing or trailing plants with tendrils at the tip of the compound leaves.

Common vetch, or spring vetch, originated in Europe but has become naturalized in the eastern United States, where it is grown as forage. Forage is food for horses or cattle.

Other important vetch species include the hairy vetch, which is planted for fodder in dry, open soils; the bitter vetch, which is used as a winter green manure crop in farming in California; and the broad bean vetch, grown for food and forage.

The American vetch gores in moist soils of the northern U.S. and bears clusters of violet flowers.