VICIA FABA 203 



jraces. The lioisc bean {jcvcrolc) resembles more ihc primi- 

 tive plant, and iis seed is not used as a vegetable. 



In India, Mauritius, and a number of other tropical 

 countries the bean most frequently met with is the horse 

 ■bean, Faba vulgaris. This plant is suited to nearly all 

 soils, provided tliev are not too close ; it thrives without 

 difficullv, but its development will depend on the conditions 

 of cultivation. I'sually from 75 to 80 cm. high, it may 

 attain a height of r50 metres and will form a very 

 important supplv of fodder. Horse beans are extremely 

 valuable plants; they are sown, like all other Leguminosai, 

 at the commencement of the rainv season. The seeding 

 may be verv close, the plants being upright and very little 

 branched. It is regrettable that they are nt)t utilized 

 through canes; the\- might be sown in three rows in each 

 interspace, and the total of green matter ploughed in at 

 the ]3eriod of flowering would be very considerable. 



The variety that has come to us from India is a plant 

 with single stem ; the leaves are oblong, lanceolate, and 

 extend along the whole length of the plant. The flowers are 

 spread in clusters at the summit, and are black and white. 



This plant is but little cultivated in Mauritius, and only 

 small plots are found. It is chiefly the Indians who 

 grow it, round about their dwellings, and it onlv very 

 exceptionally appears on the market. 



As has been alreadv mentioned, this plant might be an 

 extremely valuable one for rural industry. If interplanted 

 through canes the seeds might be picked and given to live 

 stock; this would be of all the more advantage in view of 

 the difficulty of feeding live stock, and a locally grown 

 nutriment would pay well. The seeds are in the proportion 

 of 80 to 85 per cent. Thev are very rich in nitrogenous 

 matter, contain but little cellulose, and form a first-class 

 nutriment. 



The composition of these horse beans is as follows : — 



