674 Bulletin 320 



and latterly as Pois de Senteur. The common Gesse of central Europe 

 is Laihyms saiivus. 



Of the one hundred or more species of Lathyrus, very few are in cul- 

 tivation. Some — as, for example, the sweet pea — are of ornamental 

 value; others, such as Lathyrus sativus, are of economic value as forage 

 crops. 



The species are all propagated by seed, and the perennial species by 

 division also. Occasionally cuttings have been used, and possibly the 

 method could be extensively adopted. 



With the exception of the sweet pea, which requires the best of soil 

 and culture, the Lathyri are not exacting as to soil. Some of the perennial 

 species appear to thrive in a rather poor, dry soil and are useful in covering 

 banks. The perennial species have long, fleshy roots, and when estab- 

 lished they thrive for years without special care. In fact, these species are 

 best left alone. 



Descriptions of cultivated species 



LATHYRUS SATIVUS L. 



Blue-flowered lathyrus, or chichling vetch. An annual species, of 

 easy culture. The flowers are sky-blue [Repertoire de Couleurs, the 

 standard and wings forget-me-not blue 2-3 (217), back of the standard 

 heliotrope i (188)] or pure white. The plant grows to a height of 2 feet 

 and flowers early and profusely. The season is not long, but probably 

 successive sowings would provide for a longer display of the bright 

 blue flowers. At least two crops a year can be grown. 



Don has the following to say of this species, which is a native of Italy, 

 Spain, and France and has probably been cultivated from the earliest 

 times: " In several parts of the continent a light, white, pleasant bread 

 is made of the flower of this pulse, but it produced such dreadful effects 

 in the seventeenth century that the use of it was forbidden by an edict 

 of George, Duke of Wurttemberg, in 167 1, which was enforced by two 

 other edicts under his successor, Leopold, in 1705 and 17 14. Divemoy 

 Fabbroni says that in 1786 the government there cautioned the peasants 

 against its use." 



The effect of the use of the bread or seeds was that men and animals 

 suffered from a rigidity of the limbs, which came on suddenly without 

 any previous pain. The disease was regarded as incurable. Swine, 

 horses, and pigeons suffered in this way, cattle grew lean; while poultry 

 would not cat the food. Strange to relate, it appears that geese suffered 

 no ill effects. It is recorded that if these seeds are mixed with one fourth 

 or one half wheat flour, the bread made from them is harmless. The 

 foregoing possibly explains the origin of the generic name. 



