138 LATHYRUS SATIVUS (SPANISH LENTIL) 



lOO'OO 



Dr. Leather gives an analysis: — 



Water ... ... ... ... ... 9-94 per cent. 



Ash ... ... ... ... ... 4"02 



Cellulose ... ... ... ... ... 4'6o 



Fat ... ... ... ... ... 0-86 



Non-nitrogenous matter ... ... ... 58*2i 



Nitrogenous matter ... ... ... ... 22'37 



100 00 



Nitrogen ... ... ... ... ... 3-58 per cent. 



Nitrogen as proteins ... ... ... ... 3"20 ,, 



LATHYRUS SATIVUS (EVERLASTING PEA, 

 SPANISH LENTIL, GESSE). 



iMlhyrus sativiis (comnionh' called everlasting pea, or 

 Spanish lentil) is also cultivated in IncTia, where it occupies 

 an area of 2,000 to 2,500 hectares. 



The ground should be prepared, and the seeds sown 

 at the rate of from 80 to 95 lb. to the hectare. The crop is 

 harvested five to six months later, before the fruit is com- 

 pletelv ripe. 



Mollison states that on an average the weight of pods 

 may vary from 2,190 to 2,530 lb. to the hectare, and the 

 weight of forage from 2,890 to 3,325 lb. to the same area. 



This plant is chiefly cultivated as a forage crop ; but it 

 thrives well, and its seeds are used on a large scale by the 

 lower classes as food, chiefl^' in the form of bread. 



Its poisonous properties are dealt with in Ihe chapter on 

 dangerous plants. 



The following is the analysis from the Agricultural 

 Ledger : — ■ 



