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plant. Hind. — Mung-phullie, Bue-mung, Vilayeti-mung. Punjauh. 

 — Chawal iniigra. Ben<j. — China-badauo, Alke-k\ilay. TcJ. — Nela- 

 sanagalu. Tamil. — Nelay-cadalay. Sanskrit. — Boclianaka. 



This long string of names, whicli could be easily extended, tends 

 to show that the cultivation of this plant is an industry widely 

 distributed throughout the world, in countries having suitable soil 

 and climate for its growth. A suitable climate Avithout a suitable 

 soil would be useless, as the plant almost entirely depends upon the 

 physical character of the soil to enable it to produce its fruit to per- 

 fection. It is quite useless to plant the " Ground Nut" in clay or 

 hard soils, as it would be physically impossible for the plant to bury 

 its legume beneath the surface, so as to allow of its full and proper 

 development. The ground nut is an annual herb with procumbent 

 branches. It belongs to the order Leguminoscc, and bears small yellow 

 pea-like flowers borne on long stalks, which, after flowering, curl 

 downwards, and force the immature pod into the soil sometimes 

 as deep as three inches or more below the surface where it fully 

 developes and ripens. 



Good ground nuts have been grown in Trinidad, and have 

 frequently been shewn at our exhibitions of produce, but neverthe- 

 less, the market is principally supplied with produce which is of 

 American growth. Most of the attempts to grow the plant have I 

 believe been made in unsuitable soil, and where any success has been 

 obtained, the soil in which they have been grown has been artificially 

 prepared. 



In some districts in Trinidad there will pi-obably be found soils 

 which are eminently suited for this cultivation. These are best 

 described as soft sandy loams which, either dry or wet, maintain 

 their porous and easily penetrated character. Such soils usually 

 contain a sufficient amount of organic matter and other constituents 

 of plant food as will enable a plant like the " ground nut" to be 

 economically grown. 



In the district of Oropuche and Siparia, soils are to be found in 

 which a walking stick can readily be pressed down one or tAvo feet 

 deep, and it is such soils that should be used for the culture of the 

 " Ground Nut" or " Pistache." The climate is all that could be 

 desired for the cultivation, the market is a good one, as shewn by 

 the annual importations, and it is only necessary to plant in suitable 

 soil to obtain a paying crop. 



The plant is stated by Prof. Church to be " probably of Ameri- 

 can origin ;" and this view is also taken by DeCaudoUe who ascribes 



