126 



it to the Brazilian Continent. It having been shown that in that 



region, six other species of AracMs were long since discovered ; and he 



further believes it to have been introduced into Africa by slave ships 



at a very early period, and where it is now largely cultivated. 



Professor Church gives the composition of the pea-nut as 



follows : — 



7-5 



He also says, " as half the weight of pea-nuts is oil, they require 

 a considerable amount of starchy food in order to become a wholesome 

 and economical article of diet. Pea-nuts, aftfer the greater part of 

 the oil has been extracted by pressure, yield a cake well adapted for 

 feeding cattle." 



The oil when " cold-drawn" is almost colourless, of agreeable faint 

 odour, and bland olive-like flavour. " It is employed for cooking and 

 burning, and as a general substitute for olive oil ; indeed, large 

 quantities are passed off as olive oil in European markets." — {Spons 

 Encylp.) 



In Trinidad the common name for the ground nut is " Pistache^^ 

 or " Pistache de terre" but it should not be confused as is sometimes 

 done, with the veritable " Pistachio nut" of Europe, which is the 

 seed of a tree known as Pistachia vera, a native of "Western Asia. 

 The seeds of this tree are generally eaten in eastern countries either 

 " simply dried as a dessert fruit somewhat resembling almonds, or 

 made into articles of confectionery." The harvesting and curing 

 of the crop of the " ground nut" is simple ; all that is required, is 

 to remove them from the ground and wash and dry them thoroughly, 

 bvit they should be sized before being sent to market, as the large 

 ones are used for dessert and confectionery purposes and the 

 smaller ones for making oil for household use to which they are 

 well adapted. 



In India large areas are grown. Dr. Watt in the " Agricultural 

 Ledger," published in Calcutta, says that as much as 112,000 acres 

 were under cultivation in 1879. In 1878 the imports into France 

 were valued at 30,239,602 francs — the largest portion of which was 



