56 A NATURALIST IN WESTERN CHINA 



for the oil which is obtained from the seeds by pressure, and for 

 the residual-cakes that remain after the oil had been expressed. 

 From Newchwang, the port of Manchuria, there is an enormous 

 export trade done in " Bean-cake," which is in great demand as 

 an agricultural fertilizer in all parts of China. The soy bean 

 has recently been exported to Europe in large quantities, 

 and the soy-bean oil is employed in soap-making and for culin- 

 ary purposes. 



Two kinds of Gram, Phaseolus mungo, " Lu-tou," and 

 P. mungo, var. radiatus, " Hung-tou," are grown as summer 

 crops. The seeds of the " Lu-tou " (green bean) are especially 

 valued for their sprouts. To obtain these the beans are put in 

 jars with water and covered over. Under these conditions they 

 quickly develop shoots a couple of inches or more long, which 

 are highly esteemed as a vegetable. Of the " Hung-tou " 

 (red bean) there are two or three varieties. The seeds of these 

 are used as a vegetable or ground into flour and employed for 

 stuffing cakes and sweetmeats. 



The Lentil {Ervum Lens), " Chin-me-wan-tzu," is cultivated 

 as a winter crop, being commonly associated with peas and 

 broad beans. It is, however, by no means extensively 

 grown. The seeds are eaten cooked. Oil is occasionally 

 expressed from the seeds and used for lighting purposes. 

 Other pulses are Dolichos Lahlah, " Pien-tou," of which there 

 are several varieties, Canavalia ensiformis (Sword Bean), 

 Phaseolus vulgaris, " Yiin-tou," Vigna Catiang, and Cajanus 

 indicus, all commonly and extensively cultivated. Though the 

 seeds of the first four are eaten, it is more for the pods, which are 

 sliced, cooked, and eaten as a vegetable, that these plants are 

 valued. The cylindrical pods of Vigna Catiang are from i-|- to 

 2 feet long, and about the thickness of a lead-pencil. Though 

 the Chinese esteem it, I have found it only a very tasteless 

 vegetable. As a winter crop in parts of the Yangtsze Valley, 

 Melilotus macrorhiza, " Yeh-hua-tsen," is sparingly cultivated. 

 The green shoots are sometimes eaten as a vegetable ; the 

 seeds are used medicinally for colds. 



Of cabbages the Chinese have their own peculiar varieties, 

 all of them very different from those grown in this country. 

 The favourite variety, " Peh-ts'ai," or Shantung cabbage, as 



