TRANSLATOR'S NOTE. 



In view of the very great amount of work and the 

 possible loss in accuracy which conversion of the numerical 

 data in M. de Sornay's book would have entailed, it has 

 been decided to retain the metric system throughout. I have, 

 however, considered it advisable to dispense with the old 

 French measure, the " arpent," frequently occurring in the 

 original, and to state all calculations of area, ^•ield, &c., in 

 terms of hectares. For the sake of convenience, a table of 

 French and English equivalents is included at the begin- 

 ning of the book. 



In discussing the fruit of the Leguminosie, the word 

 "pod" has been used to denote the wliole fruit with its 

 contained seeds, and the word " husk," the equivalent of 

 " shell," or the American "hull," to signif\' the pod emptied 

 of its seeds. 



Ow-ing to the W^ar, communication with tlie author has 

 been difficult, consequentlv no attempt has been made to 

 modify the plan of the original in an\' way and the trans- 

 lation remains somewhat more literal than might have been 

 the case had closer collaboration been possible. A com- 

 plete set of proofs, however, has passed through M. de 

 Sornay's hands and such corrections as he has made have 

 been incorporated with my own. 



I wish to take this opportunity of expressing my thanks 

 to Mr. C. L. Walton, ?^I.Sc., and Mr. W. E. Whitehouse, 

 of the Universitv College of AA^ales, Aberystwyth, for 

 considerable help in the work of revision. 



F. W. FLATTELY, 



International Institute of Agriculture, 

 Rome. 



