DOLICHOS BULBOSUS (yAM BEAn) 



115 



The seeds which are not utilized serve for the plant's 

 reproduction. Their composition is as follows : — 



Water 



Ash 



Cellulose 



Fat 



Sugars 



Non-nitrogenous matter 



Nitrogenous matter 



Nitrogen 



Our researches have shown that these seeds contain a 

 fairly large proportion of fat and a very small quantity of 

 starch. The mineral elements are present in the proportions 

 indicated below : — 



The composition of leaves and stems is as follows :- 



Water ... 



Ash 



Cellulose 



Fat 



Non-nitrogenous matter 



Nitrogenous matter 



Nitrogen... 

 Nitrogen as protein 



The proportion of protein nitrogen to the total amount 

 of nitrogen is 59-8 per cent. 



As growth proceeds these leaves wither and fall and thus 

 enrich the soil in which the plant is growing by returning 

 to it the mineral elements abstracted. Considering the 



