65 



Sutton & Sons of Reading. Note also a series of seeds of CASE 

 Pisiim arvense, L., cultivated in India. 33. 



No. 191. Crab's Eyes, seeds of Ahrus precatorius, 

 L., used in India by jewellers and druggists as a weight 

 (rati) averaging a little less than 2 grains. They are 

 often strung together for necklaces, rosaries, &c. Under 

 the name of Jequerity seeds they were introduced into 

 this country in 1882 for the treatment of ophthalmia. 

 They are said to be occasionally used as an article of food 

 in Egypt ; the powdered seeds are harmless Avhen eaten, 

 but rapidly produce fatal results when introduced 

 beneath the skin even in small quantity. They are used 

 criminally in India in " Sui " poisoning, the object being 

 to obtain the skins of the poisoned animals. The 

 poisonous action is due to the presence of Ahrine^ a 

 proteid (hence rendered inert by heat) closely allied to 

 albumen in composition, and obtainable from the roots 

 and stem as well as from the seeds. The roots are said to 

 be employed in India as a substitute for Liquorice, and 

 the bark is twisted into a coarse cordage. 



No. 192. Soy Beans {Glycine hispida, Maxim.). 

 An annual, cultivated largely in China, Japan, and India. 

 In the two former countries a sauce known as Soy is 

 produced in large quantities and in Japan a kind of 

 cheese or curd cake is prepared known as " Natto." 



The chief products of Manchuria are bean oil and bean 

 cake. The seeds yield 17 per cent, of an edible oil 

 obtained by expression, and the residue is made into 

 large circular cakes, weighing about 60 lbs,, similar to 

 that exhibited, used in the East for feeding cattle and 

 also as manure. Soy is imported into Europe in barrels 

 and is said to form the basis of most of the popular 

 sauces. 



Observe on the middle shelf tubers of Eryth7Hna 

 acanthocarpa, E. Mey., from South Africa. These are 

 extremely light and are used for making hats, &c., a 

 specimen of which is exhibited. 



On a lower shelf are tubers of Apios tuberoscCy Moench., 

 a climbing plant of North America ; they are farinaceous, 

 and edible when cooked. 



25782 E 



