192 TEPHROSIA CANDIDA 



to the European demand. In 1909 Europe imported 700,00a 

 to 800,000 tons, and it is expected to reach a total of i, 000,00a 

 tons. 



These products are sold on the London market, the seeds 

 ^t /'5 to ^6 per ton ; the oil costs £21 to jQii per ton, and 

 the cake fetches ;QG to ^,7 per ton. 



TEPHROSIA CANDIDA. 



The indig()-}ielding plant used in rotations belongs to 

 the genus Tcphrosia (from ihe Greek Tephros, ashy; re- 

 ferring to the colour of the leaves). The most commonly 

 distributed species are Tcphrosia Candida and Tcphrosia 

 purpurea. The latter is a native of the East Indies, and 

 was discovered in 1768. If this plant is preferred to the 

 Lima bean or other leguminous species, the reason is because 

 the former, when cut to allow of the soil being put into 

 cultivation, furnishes an appreciable amount of fuel. 



From the chemical point of view, we are of the opinion 

 that, being a shrub, it extends its roots deeper into the sub- 

 soil, and consequently brings to the surface of the fields, 

 after the leaves have decomposed, a larger quantity of mineral 

 elements. At the same time it must be pointed out that, as 

 regards its value as a rotation crop, this end is not completely 

 attained, for the removal of the stems is the cause of a certain 

 impoverishment of the soil. 



The actual proportion of stems in Tcphrosia Candida is 

 60 to 65 per cent., with a content of mineral matter of 

 I "9 per cent. We must take it that the owner finds com- 

 pensation for this loss in the M^ood used for fuel. 



We have no figures to allow of our establishing the 

 amount of yield to the hectare. 



If this plant affords an actual profit from the special point 

 of view as a rotation crop, it can only be attributed to the 

 numerous leaves which fall and cover the soil during growth 

 and to the specialization of the roots which, penetrating more- 



