Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 189 



should it prove valuable as food for cattle, it must commend itself to the 

 agricultural community in field culture. ' 



In its cultivation it evidently requires room, to give the plant a full 

 development for branching. Its bearing properties are immense. 



Accompanying the seeds I send a plant, to show its habits of growth and 

 bearing properties. 



Its origin is said to have been Japan. It was introduced into this country, 

 some two years since, by the agency of one of those calamities which 

 sometimes result in benefit to mankind. 



An American ship encountered a Japan vessel in distress, and the crew 

 were carried to San Francisco, Cal. Amongst the stores which were trans- 

 ferred was the " Japan pea," a few of which found their way into the hands 

 of Dr. Edwards, of Alton, 111. He handed them over to Mr. J. H. Ladd, a 

 distinguished horticulturist, who presented the produce to our society. 

 Those now sent you were grown in my grounds, — having fully matured 

 in our climate. Your climate may prove too severe. 



I have sent small packages of seed to kindred associations, with the 

 request that they may be placed in careful hands. 



It is possible that it may not be anything new with you. I would be 

 thankful for any information you may possess in reference to it. — Very re- 

 respectfully. A, H. Ernst, Spring Garden, Cincinnati, O., Jan. Wth, 1853." 



" The plant alluded to by Mr. Ernst, is Cajanus bicolor, a native of East 

 Indies, Amboyna, Japan, &c. Flower small, interior yellow, vexillum 

 purple ; erect shrub ; pubescent ; nearest in alliance to Lupinus. The seeds 

 are good to eat, and, when young, very delicate. On soaking the round 

 seeds for an hour, in moderately hot water, they take exactly the form and 

 appearance of the common white bean, become quite tender, and have a 

 pure and delicious nutty and oily flavor. The ivhole plant, with the seed, is 

 excellent for fattening hogs and cattle. 



There is one other species, Cajanus flavus, common in South America 

 and the West Indies, where it is sometimes used for a fence to sugar plan- 

 tations. In Jamaica this species is much used for feeding pigeons, and is 

 there called the Pigeon-pea. In Martinique the seed is much esteemed for 

 the table. 



Being a tropical plant, it would hardly stand our winters. Yet, from the 

 observations of Mr. Ernst, it is not improbable that our climate might admit 

 of an annual harvest of the seed, which seems to be so abundantly produced 

 as to make an experiment highly interesting. — Most truly yours, J. E. 

 Teschemacher, Boston, \9th Jan., 1853." 



Exhibited. — Fruit : From the President of the Society, Winter Nelis 

 pears. From J. J. Dixwell, by the President, fine specimens of apples from 

 Albemarle County, Va., under the name of Virginia Pippin, which proved 

 to be the Newtown Pippin. The flavor of this fruit was most delicious, 

 even superior, in the opinion of the committee, to the same variety grown 

 in New York. From H. Vandine, Rosewater pears, Hubbardston Nonsuch, 

 Porter, Dutch Codlin, Thomas and Broadwell apples. From G. Walsh, 

 Easter Beurre and Le Cur6 pears, and quinces. From J. S. Amory, very 



