76 CANAVALIA ENSIFORMIS (jACK BEAN) 



plants in the rows sliould be placed at greater or smaller 

 intervals, according as to whether the pods are to be 

 gathered with the seeds or the crop is to be ploughed in. 

 All the pods, even when only one-quarter developed, are 

 of large size; the best cooking bean being from 15 to 20 cm. 

 long and weighing from 15 to 30 grm. 



The following table gives their composition as com- 

 pared with that of ordinary haricot beans given by M. 

 Balland : — 



In 100 PARTS OF NATURAL SUBSTANCE In IOO PARTS OF DRV I\rATTfR 



When the pods have been allowed to develop till the 

 seeds are fc^med, but before they have reached maturity, 

 the latter may be eaten without the shell ; they then cook 

 splendidly, whereas when allowed to. ripen they can only 

 be softened with difficultv. 



Raoul says the wild Indian variety is supposed to be 

 poisonous, and advises using the seed when half ripe and 

 still soft; he thinks this question should be gone into. For 

 ourselves, we and a number of other people have often 

 eaten it without any subsequent di.scomfort, and we happen 

 to know that at Reduit and elsewhere the crop has often 

 been pillaged by "amateurs" who certainly did not share 

 the prevailing opinion. 



When the seeds are half ripe, the shells, of course, can 

 no longer be eaten ; but they might be made use of for 

 animals, such as pigs and others. Once the seed is formed 

 the green pods have reached the height of their develop- 



