64 THE STOCKFEEDER'S COMPANION 



(e) Leguminous Seeds. 



The chief leguminous seeds or pulse grains which 

 are grown in this country are beans, peas, and tares. 

 They are all fairly rich in albuminoids (beans contain- 

 ing 25 per cent, and peas 23 per cent), but are very 

 poor in oil (ij per cent). In carbohydrates, peas have 

 54 per cent and beans 48 per cent Fibre is low 

 (6 to 7 per cent). The following foreign leguminous 

 seeds deserve special mention : 



"Indian Pea or Gram" (Vigna catjong] is about 

 the same size as a field pea, dull greyish coloured, and 

 peculiarly shaped. It has the following composition : 

 albuminoids, 18 per cent.; fat, 4 per cent; and carbo- 

 hydrates, 58 per cent. This pea is becoming increas- 

 ingly popular for blending with other foods which are 

 rather low in nutrient constituents. 



Java Beans (Phaseolus lunatus) should be very care- 

 fully fed to stock, because, when mixed with the digestive 

 juices, prussic acid may be generated, which is a deadly 

 poison. The same thing applies to gorse seeds. 



Leguminous seeds, and especially beans, are apt 

 to produce flatulency (wind on the stomach, etc.), if 

 fed carelessly to animals ; on this account they should 

 not exceed, say, a quarter of the concentrates fed. 

 They should be well ground and mixed with bran and 

 chop to make a bulky feed. 



To the feeder these foods are highly nutritious, and 

 are particularly useful for mixing with bulky rations as 

 well as concentrates which are rich in oil. For horses 

 doing severe work, beans and peas supply them with 

 wonderful staying power and muscular energy. 





