PHASEOLUS SEMIERECTUS 163 



years, these organic matters accumulate on the ground every 

 year and form humus; conditions then being especially 

 favourable, the subsequent crops are more productive. 



PHASEOLUS SEMIERECTUS. 



In the " Report on Agricultural Work " from 1896 to 1902 

 for British Guiana, we see that attention is paid to this legume 

 which is of common occurrence in that country in abandoned 

 fields and in pastures, so long as it has not been obliterated 

 by other plants. An inspection of its roots has shown that it 

 possesses nodules in a much higher proportion than any 

 other variety of cow peas. On account of its vegetation, 

 and more especially owing to the woody nature of its stems, 

 it is not very well adapted to ploughing under, whereas the 

 cow pea is particularlv useful in this respect. 



Its composition shows it to be a highly niUritive plant, 

 and it is a favourite with cattle. It is used in preference to 

 other plants for feeding milch cows. In plantations, where 

 it grows practically wild without special cultivation, it has 

 been shown to give two crops a year with a yield of 64 tons 

 of green forage to the hectare. 



The following figures have been obtained from analyses 

 of seeds and of the green plant : — 



Water ... 



Fat 



Albuminoids (a) 

 Amides {3) 

 Saccharose 

 Glucose 

 Gums, &c. 

 Starch ... 



Digestible cellulose 

 Wood ... 

 Ash ... 



(a) Containing nitrogen 

 (6) Containing nitrogen 



389 3-51 



