yo VOANDZEIA SUBTERRANEA (bAMBARRA GROUND-NUT) 



According to a passage from the Rapport general de 

 V Exposition de Marseille, 1907, by M. E. Charabot, the 

 export of pea-nuts has fallen off during the last few years. 



VOANDZEIA SUBTERRANEA (BAMBARRA 

 GROUND-NUT). 



This nut, a native of Madagascar, is called the Bambarra 

 ground-nut, or Voandzou, its scientific name being Voand- 

 zeia subterranea. 



Although the plant shows considerable similarity with 

 the ordinary pea-nut, it has a completely different com- 

 position and does not serve the same purposes. I^ike the 

 pea-nut, the Bambarra ground-nut is a leguminous plant 

 and may be grown as a subsidiary crop. Its vegetation is 

 similar and shows the same rosette of erect leaves; the fruit 

 develops around the stem just beneath the surface of the 

 soil, and by remaining attached to the plant facilitates the 

 work of picking. Any fruit which remains behind can be 

 speedily gathered. 



Its requirements in the matter of cultivation are the same 

 as those of the pea-nut, and it may, in the same way, be 

 grown between rows of canes. It may be planted in two 

 parallel lines, either in successive or in alternate inter- 

 rows. The crop is harvested directly the leaves and stems 

 begin to shrivel. 



The yield may equal that of the ordinary pea-nut ; for 

 instance, in one of the trials we made we obtained from 

 a seeding between rows of canes (every other row), 2,315 kilos 

 of green nuts and 2,735 kilos of green leaves per hectare. 



Green nuts usually only yield 40 per cent, of dry nuts. 

 The fruit is eaten when green, owing to the fact that when 

 dry it appears to be difificult to cook, and must be crushed 

 before use. 



