183 



FOOD. 



the action of steam, wliicli will, in a couple of hours, remove the objec- 

 tionable quality without reducing them to a watery mass. 



Horse beans, as grown in England, however, are very coarse and 

 astringent substances. No wonder if the large employment of such pro- 

 duce is found to act upon the bowels ; surprise should be expressed if so 



ENGLISH BEANS — A BAD SAMPLE. 



harsh a food could be consumed without inducing constipation. The 

 Egyptian bean, nevertheless, is free from such objectionable properties, 



EGYPTIAN BEANS— A GOOD SAMPLE. 



being mild and sweet. The author thinks a larger quantity of this 

 crushed and moistened seed might be with benefit presented to the ani- 

 mal. As at present imported, however, it is very imperfectly harvested. 

 Most samples exhibit the shriveled and the discolored skin, which de- 



EQTPIIAN BEANS — A BAD SAMPLE. 



notes the sickle was resorted to before the plant was matured — an error 

 perfectly inexcusable in a climate which is for nine months of the year 

 free from rain. 



Might not some sound Egyptian beans be procured ; from these could 

 not a milder and better species of bean be raised in this country ? The 



