158 NIGERIA NORTHERN PROVINCES 



The " Bambarra groundnut" (Voandzeia subterranea) 

 is grown in a similar manner to the common groundnut 

 (Arachis hypogea) which has been referred to among the 

 exported products. The cultivation is similar, and the 

 plant is seen occupying elevated ridges. The Haussa 

 name is " Paruru." 



An unidentified bean, which is called " Girigiri," has 

 been described as being grown by the pagan Gwari 

 tribes to the south of Zaria, but apart from the fact 

 that it is much larger than the " Wanki " bean, nothing 

 seems to be known about it. 



Indian dhall (Cajanus indicus), frequently termed the 

 pigeon pea, has been introduced into many parts of the 

 country, with the object of inducing the native to grow 

 a leguminous crop, which would serve the dual purpose 

 of providing a palatable food as well as being beneficial 

 to the soil, but in only a few localities do the natives 

 appear to make use of the peas for food. It has been 

 recommended to grow the plant upon land which has 

 become somewhat exhausted by the repeated growth of 

 grain crops, and to permit the peas to remain upon such 

 land for two or three seasons, during which time they 

 will yield successive crops. The beneficial action which 

 such a plant exerts by nitrifying the soil, and the manurial 

 value of the leaves, which are shed in thick profusion, 

 are important reasons for its introduction, but the value 

 will not be fully appreciated until it has been adopted 

 generally as a food. 



SOYA BEAN. The Manchurian or soya bean (Glycine 

 hispida or soja), which has the additional merit of yielding 

 about 15 per cent, of a valuable oil, and which is highly 

 appreciated as another kind of dhall in India, is being 

 experimented with in various parts of British West 

 Africa (see Bulletin of tlie Imperial Institute, vol. viii. 

 [1910], p. 40). 



The recent expansion in the cultivation of leguminous 

 crops is a promising step. 



CASSAVA. Among the Haussas as well as the Yorubas 

 and Nupes, the cultivation of cassava (Manihot utilis- 

 sima) is extensively carried on. In Haussa cultivation 

 it is an unmanured plant, and is usually grown in separate 

 fields surrounded by mud walls, thorn hedges, or Guinea- 

 corn matting. The ground from which a crop of cassava 



