PHASEOLUS LUNATUS (LIMA BEAN) I57 



the seeds are moditied. They become more compressed, 

 yellowish, marked with violet streaks and stains, and are then 

 only rarely poisonous. This form is commonly known as 

 ' Pois d'Achery.' A more prolonged cultivation under the 

 best conditions leads to a new variation. The seeds, increas- 

 ing in size, become still further flattened, and their colour 

 approaches more and more to the pure white. They are 

 then called ' Pois doux, ' Pois d'Adam ' sweet pea, Adam 

 pea), and being now harmless may be eaten without 

 any fear ; moreover, they have an agreeable flavour. This 

 plant is a native of Bengal. Cultivated for a considerable 

 time past in Reunion, where it was greatly valued as a 

 restorative crop for soils sown with canes, it has been re- 

 placed by other Leguminosce on account of the frequent cases 

 of poisoning for which it has been responsible. Even to- 

 day it is sometimes the cause of mishaps. The chemist 

 Marcadieu, who was formerly employed to analyse these 

 seeds, writes of having found prussic acid present." 



Phaseolus lunatus is a very popular rotation legume. It 

 io perennial and resows itself naturally by means of the 

 seeds falling on the soil, which remains covered for several 

 years (seven-year pea) with a thick layer of verdure. When 

 sown at the commencement of the rains it soon covers the 

 ground with a luxuriant vegetation. This vegetation is only 

 continuous in localities where drought is not too prolonged. 

 Along the littoral* where the vegetation only recovers with 

 the advent of the first rains, its appearance is sporadic. 



The Lima bean is a most valuable plant for restoring 

 soil fertility. Throughout the whole of its period of growth 

 it sheds numerous leaves which decay and enrich the soil, 

 so that when, after the soil has been occupied by this crop 

 for one or more years, this sum of organic matters is 

 ploughed under, a good manuring is effected. The sub- 

 sequent crops are always superior when the soil has been 

 prepared in this way. 



The Lima bean is very largely employed as a cover 



