94 CICER ARIETINUM (CHICK PEA) 



takes place about a month after harvest. This beetle causes 

 a large amount of damage among seeds stored in their 

 husks. It is a good plan to shell the pods and store the 

 seeds in hermetically sealed vessels with a sufficient amount 

 of bisulphide of carbon to suffocate the larvce without 

 harming the seeds. 



Although there is but one species of Bruchus, specimens 

 of different sizes are found emerging from the seeds, the 

 reason being that there are often a number of insects in 

 one seed, the first to complete their metamorphosis find 

 sufficient nourishment for their normal development, while 

 those coming later remain small through its absence. 



We may add that in Mauritius, in high situations, 

 Lycoena hoeiica and L. tclicanus both work absolute havoc 

 among pigeon peas. Of these two Lepidoptera L. boetica 

 is the more harmful to Cajanus indicus. According to 

 observations by M. Maurice Girard on Lycoena boetica, the 

 female lays her eggs on the pods, and the caterpillar, which 

 is more or less dark green in colour with its back striped 

 with red, lives on the seeds, passing from one pod to 

 another and blocking up the aperture through which it 

 enters. This species also devours the pods of the bladder- 

 nut tree (Colnlca arburescens), and in default of this it 

 attacks green peas. 



CICER ARIETIXUM (CHICK PEA). 



The chick pea is cultivated in India, being employed as 

 fodder for horses in the north and west. A considerable 

 amount is exported. This plant thrives well in tropical 

 countries where the temperature is not too high and the 

 rainfall is moderate. 



This plant has the advantage of not causing overheating 

 or excitement in animals. 



Appended is an analysis by Sagot of seeds harvested 

 in the tropical zone : — 



