l62 



Food-Grains of India. 



Horse Gram. 

 Dolichos biflorus, L. 



Synonym — Dolichos uniflorus (L.). 



Hind. — Kiilthi, kdlti. Punjab — Kalat, Gagli, Barat, Botang. 



Sanskrit — Kol u th a . 



Tamil — Wdla-walil. 



This species of Dolichos is either sub-erect or twining in 

 habit. The pod is much recurved, i^ to 2 inches in length, 

 5 to 6-seeded. It is wild in the Himalaya to Ceylon and Burma, 

 ascending to 3,000 feet in Sikkim. It is not infrequently culti- 

 vated, being generally sown from August to November, and 

 reaped from November to February. 



Composition of Horse Gram (C). 



The nutrient-ratio is here 1:27, and the nutrient-coefficient 

 83. The ash of these beans contains nearly one-third of its 

 weight of phosphoric acid. The long-continued use of these 

 beans is regarded as injurious ; they are reputed, in some districts, 

 to cause cedematous swellings. The haulms are a good fodder. 



