Inventory 48, Seeds and Plants Imported. 



Plate IV. 



Seeds of a Staple Food Product in Spain, a 

 Varieties of Chick-Pea (Cicer arietinum 

 43280). 



Few of the Numerous 

 L., S. P. I. Nos. 43273- 



Tho chick-pea, or garbanzo of Spanish countries, is used very extensively. In some regions 

 it stands next in importance to wheat as a food plant. It is employed in meat stews 

 :-.lmost universally in Spain and is eaten as a breakfast dish in Asia Minor in the form of 

 a puree. Muffins made from chick-pea meal closely resemble corn-meal muifins. The 

 chick-pea is an arid-region plant and does not thrive where the summers are moist. Its 

 leaves are covered with sticky hairs containing oxalate of lime; this makes it somewhat 

 di.sagreeable to harvest by hand. In regions where it grows well it should be carefully 

 studied as an important leguminous grain crop. ( Photographed by IZ. C. Crandall, Dec. 

 21, 190'j; P6248FS.) 



