ANALYSIS OF THE PKA. 369 



Pisum sativum, the Common Pea. Many varieties of the 

 pea are cultivated, both in the garden and in the field. For 

 human food the pea is chiefly used in the green state, and in 

 the form of split-pea for soup in winter. Pease-meal bread 

 is less used now than formerly, and pease-brose is very much 

 confined to invalids. As food for horses and cattle, the use of 

 the pea seems to be on the decline. It may be that the bean 

 supplies this generic sort of food to greater advantage. Never- 

 theless, as mere fashion (so to speak) has often all the influence 

 in such cases, it may be worth while, before allowing the pea 

 to become wholly obsolete for feeding, to consider how great 

 benefit invalids of the human race often obtain by exchanging 

 their farinaceous food from the cereals to that derived from 

 leguminous plants, as in pease-brose and in the preparations of 

 lentil-meal. It may be the same in horses and cattle ; and 

 when they fall out of condition without evident cause, it may 

 be worth while to try the effect of the old pea-food. At any 

 rate, it is quite certain, the best way to finish fattening hogs for 

 ham is to give them whole peas for a fortnight at least before 

 they are slaughtered, with any nourishing slop for a drink. 

 Analysis of the pea from Hemming's tables : 



GRAIN DRIED AT 212 FAHRENHEIT. 



Organic matter, . . . .97.25 



Ash, ..... 2.75 



ULTIMATE COMPOSITION. 



Carbon, . . . . .47.7 



Hydrogen, .... 6.2 



Oxygen, . ... 41.8 



Nitrogen, . . . .4.3 





100.0 

 Ammonia, . . . 5.20 



PROXIMATE PRINCIPLES. 



Albumen, \ 



Gluten, I .... 23.3 



Caseine, ) 



Carry forward, . 23.3 



2 A 



