210 VEGETABLES AND FOOD PRODUCTS 



fodder are esteemed as a food for cattle, and the plants are a 

 valuable green-manure. Lentils thrive on clay soils, but with 

 irrigation may also be grown on light sandy ground. 



Mucuna nivea. (=Sticolobium pachylobium); u Wanduru-me," 

 S. " Lyon Bean" of Philippines A strong-growing perennial 

 climbing bean, with stout pods about 3 inches long, and black oval 

 seeds. It is suited to low and medium elevations, but is seldom 

 cultivated in Ceylon. Here the seeds only appear to be eaten, 

 but in India the fleshy tender pods, after the removal of the outer 

 skin, are also eaten; these when dressed are, according to the late 

 DR. ROXBURGH, "a most excellent vegetable for the table, the full 

 grown beans being scarely inferior to the large garden-beans of 

 Europe." Sow seeds thinly an}* time after the commencement of 

 the rains. The plants require strong supports to climb upon. 



"Velvet Bean" is a name given to a variety of Mucuna nivea. 

 distinguished from the above by having smaller and more numerous 

 black, velvety pods, containing round mottled seeds. This came 

 recently into prominence in the Southern United States as a forage 

 and green-manure plant, the seeds also being eaten to some extent. 

 Suited to low and medium elevations. 



Pachyrrhizus tuberosus. Yam Bean. A strong-growing 

 climbing bean, native of the West Indies, producing a large edible 

 tuberous root, introduced at Peradeniya in 1887. The tuber is 

 cooked and eaten as a yam ; the pods, which are about 8 inches 

 long, are also edible when in a tender state. The plant is said to 

 be commonly cultivated in its native country, but is as yet scarcely 

 known in Ceylon. Cultivation same as for yams. Sow seeds 

 thinly in rows 3 to 4 feet apart, and support the vines with stout 

 sticks; otherwise plant against trees or a fence. There are two 

 varieties of this plant, one bearing blue flowers, the other white ; 

 the former is considered the better variety to cultivate. 



Phaseolus lunatus. Lima Bean ; Tonga Bean ; " Pothu- 

 dhambala" S. " Pithanga " T. The Lima-bean is held in high 

 estimation in America, its original home, but is not much appre- 

 ciated in Ceylon, nor apparently in India. It is best suited to 

 high elevations, and is sometimes seen in up-country native 

 gardens here. The pods are short, flattish, and rather curved ; 

 these are not generally considered edible, but the large flat seeds, 

 which are mottled or white, when boiled are "exceedingly agree- 

 able, having a mealy roast-chestnut-like flavour." The plants are 

 of a robust habit and are distinguished by racemes of small white 

 flowers and rather dense foliage. There are several varieties, some 



