96 



CICER ARIETINUM (CHICK PEA) 



and finally, a green caterpillar empties all the pods, the 

 damage done by the latter being sometimes so extensive as 

 to reduce the harvest over a certain area to practically nil. 

 We append our analysis of the proximate and mineral 

 composition of the seeds : — 



Water 



Ash 



Cellulose 



Fat 



Non-nitrogenous matter 



Nitrogenous matter ... 



These figures are very similar to those Sagot gives for 

 the ordinary Indian seed. 



Its mineral composition shows, as in most leguminous 

 plants, high proportions of potash and phosphoric acid, 

 those of magnesia and lime remaining about the same. 



Silica 



Chlorine 



Sulphuric acid 



Phosphoric acid 



Lime 



Magnesia ... 



Potash 



Soda 



Oxide of iron 



Carbonic acid, &c. 



The chick pea makes an excellent fodder, and we give 

 the composition of the plant, both in its green and dry 

 states. 



The dry pods give a proportion of 23 '6 per cent, husks 

 and 76*4 per cent, seeds. 



The roots may be detached, as, owing to their large pro- 

 portion of cellulose, they only yield a coarse nutriment with 

 small nitrogen content. 



