6G 



legumes ; the roots of this and probably other species contain a 

 dangerously narcotic principle. 



In the East Indies several species of Phaseulus are cultivated, and 

 their ripe seeds used as food by the natives under various names. 



Lentils, the seed of Ervuni lens (L.), also forms an important 

 addition to the food of man ; it is a native of Southern Europe, and 

 probably also of Asia. Lentils are very extensively used as food in 

 Egypt and India. Under careful cultivation the lentil is much im- 

 proved, the French lentil being fully four times as large as those of 

 Egypt. The Egyptian lentil is occasionally imported into Liverpool, 

 and used for feeding cattle. This is perhaps the most ancient of the 

 leguminous food products ; it is mentioned in the Bible that part of the 

 food for which Esau sold his birthright was " pottage of lentiles." The 

 lentil has often been cultivated in England, but chiefly as a fodder plant, 

 being cut in the green state. Tli^ much-puffed " Pi,evaleata Arabica " 

 is nothing more than the meal of lentils which have had their some- 

 what brown skins removed before grinding. 



The seeds of Arachis hypogea are used in many parts of the world 

 as food, but their chief use is for expressing oil, therefore they will be 

 again mentioned when we have done with those only used as food. 

 The I'oots of some of the Papilionacea also yield food for man, thus 

 those of Orobus tuberosus are occasionally eaten in the Highlands ; 

 and in Holland are roasted like chesnuts, and highly relished ; but 

 they are more used by the Highlanders when dried, under the name of 

 Cormeille, and the Lowland name of Knapperts, as a means of giving 

 greater zest for whisky, when chewed ; to that drink they stand in 

 the same relation as olives do to wine. This plant is very common 

 in England as a native, and is generally known as the Wood or Heath- 

 pea. In the United States another tuberous rooted species fApios 

 tuberosa, Moench) is often used as a substitute for potatoes, and is 

 said to furnish one of the articles of food used by the Aborigines. 

 These roots are farinaceous and by no means unpalatable 



In the German markets large quantities of the tubers of Lathyrus 

 tuberosus (Lin), or tuberous-rooted Everlasting Pea are sold, and they 

 are also extensively cultivated in Holland as food. 



The woody roots of the liquorice plant, Glycyrrhiza glabra (Lin.), 

 are well known for their peculiar sweetness, and as the masticatory of 

 our boyish days, also on account of the extract or liquorice juice 

 which they yield by boiling. The plant is often cultivated in this 

 country for its root, but not for the manufacture of the extract or 

 juice, which is always imported, chiefly from Italy and Spain. 



Many others of the Papilionacece yield useful products of various 



