LEGUMES 95 



a warty, shrivelled appearance, is somewhat cone-shaped and varies in 

 color. It is cultivated in southern Europe, north Africa and India in 

 place of the common pea. Similar properties are possessed by Lathyrus 

 sativus, the chickling pea, which is cultivated in southern Europe. 



Vetches are frequently admixed with broken seeds of the various 

 grains and the seeds of weeds. Since vetches mature very unevenly, it 

 is common to find spoiled seeds. The latter probably are the cause of 

 many of the bad results obtained in feeding them. Cooking or steaming 

 overcomes many of the possible dangerous consequences. Vetches have 

 a bitter taste and for this reason are not eaten readily by horses. 



The numerous varieties of field beans may be divided into two groups, 

 the small horse bean or field bean {Vicia faba minor), with oval, angular, 

 blue, brown or greenish yellow seed and long, smooth, thick pods, and 

 the large broad bean or horse bean {Vicia faba nuajor) with flat, kidney 

 shaped, grayish yellow, green or violet to black seeds and slightly bent 

 or curved pods. Beans harvested in a damp condition or stored in a 

 damp place easily become moldy. Spoiled beans lose their luster and 

 show traces of moldiness either on the outside or only on the inside of 

 the pods. Occasionally beetles (Bruchus granariiis and B. riifimanus) 

 attack the seeds. The various species of Phaseolus, cultivated as vege- 

 tables, are rarely used as feed for animals. 



The poisonous Rangoon bean or moon bean of the Dutch East Indies 

 bears a resemblance to Phaseolus imiltifiorus (scarlet pole bean) and is 

 occasionally found as an adulterant of feeding stuffs. It contains a gluco- 

 sid, phaseolunatin, from which large quantities of prussic acid are evolved 

 (0.115 per cent) which determines their toxicity. It. is differentiated 

 from the field bean (Vicia faba) by its spotted, marbled hull. Dam- 

 mann and Behrens report mass poisonings among horses, cattle and 

 swine with Java beans containing prussic acid. According to these 

 authors the poisonings referred to were caused in part by Pliaseolus 

 lunatus, P. vulgaris, Cajanus indicus and a species of Dolichos. But 

 not all species of Dolichos are toxic. D. lubia, for example, is cultivated 

 as a forage plant in Italy, D. unifJorus and D. biflorus in East India and 

 D. sinensis in South America. 



Uses. Peas, beans and white vetches are used as feed for the coarser 

 breeds of work horses, as substitutes for one-fifth to one-half of the grain 

 ration, according to the coarseness of the breed and character of the work. 

 Colts of these breeds are also fed from 2 to 4 pounds of peas or beans 

 per day, as substitutes for part of the grain ration. Stallions receive 

 similar amounts during the breeding season to stimulate sexual desire. 



The softer forms of leguminous seeds may be fed to horses without 

 special preparation, with oats and chaffed feed. The harder varieties 

 should be cracked or soaked in water about four hours — 6 pounds of 

 peas or beans for 5 quarts of water. They may also be boiled in soft 

 water, or in hard water with 1 gram (15 grains) of soda added for each 

 2 pounds of beans or peas. Beans or peas will not get soft when boiled 



