98 



CICER ARIETINUM (CHICK PEA) 



In India this pea is cultivated over an area of more 

 than four milHon hectares. The yields show considerable 

 variation according to localit}"*and conditions of cultivation. 



On unirrigated lands the yield is less, and supposing 

 the average yield of the vast area planted to be 710 kilos 

 per hectare, the limits for unirrigated land will be 485 kilos, 

 745 kilos, 950 kilos, 1,005 kilos; and for irrigated land 745 

 kilos, 1,125 kilos, and 1,420 kilos. These differences depend 

 on the more or less favourable conditions in the different 

 localities where the plant is grown. 



This pea is used in India in different forms as food for 

 both man and beast. When roasted the seeds are quite 

 agreeable in flavour ; after having been boiled to remove the 

 seed-coat they are prepared in a number of ways ; and when 

 ground they are used to prepare sweet dishes or biscuits. 

 The young shoots are eaten as a vegetable, and the 

 plants are also used in the preparation of vinegar. 



Large quantities of this pea are exported from India 

 annually, some occasionally to Mauritius, and England as 

 well. 



In 1906-7 the amount exported was about 84,658 tons, 

 of a value of 3,231,744 rupees. 



M. Aug. de Villele, Agricultural Chemist, published in 

 1904 the following facts in the " Revue Agricole de la 

 Reunion " : — 



The gram crop at Saint Gilles-les-Haut (Saint Paul) 

 yielded per hectare : — 



1,230-88 kilos 

 3.780 

 944'05 ., 



Seeds 

 10-00 



3'00 

 87-00 



0-431 



1-084 

 0-248 

 0-645 

 0-298 

 3-010 



Husks 



573 

 10-56 



8371 

 1*229 



1-997 

 0-269 

 0-068 

 0-150 

 0-700 



