ON THE PRODUCTS OF THE PEA FAMILY. 265 



Lupinus Ternus, Forsk, after being skinned ; the seeds likewise are eaten. 

 In some parts of North America, the tubers of Lupinus tuberosus are cooked 

 and eaten by the natives. Sunn hemp, the product of Crotalaria juncea L., 

 is a well known Indian fibre ; the plant is extensively cultivated in 

 Mysore and the Deccan. The process of preparing and cleaning the 

 stalks, as at present practised in India, is a very tedious operation. The 

 stems are placed in water for five or six days, when the fibre is sepa- 

 rated by the fingers. By careful and proper treatment, it becomes soft 

 and white, so as to be equal, if not superior to Russian flax for spinning ; 

 large quantities are now imported into this country. In India, it is much 

 valued for making cordage, ropes, canvas, fishing-nets, &c. Jubbulpore 

 hemp, said to be produced by Crotalaria tenuifolia, furnishes a very strong 

 fibre ; but it differs little from that of C. juncea, and, indeed, by some bota- 

 nists is regarded as a variety of the same plant. Other species of this 

 genus, as C. verrucosa, L., and C. retusa, L., are employed in medicine in 

 various ways by the Indians. The bark of the latter species is also used 

 in the manufacture of canvas, cordage, &c. From the flowers of Genista 

 tinctoria, L., called Dyer's broom, or Greenweed, a bright yellow colouring 

 matter is obtained ; combined with woad, it forms an excellent green, 

 and is said to be preferred by dyers to all other yellows for this purpose. 

 The young twigs of Genista scoparia, Lam., are employed in Madeira for 

 making fancy articles, as baskets, table-mats, &c. The plant is there called 

 the Golden Willow, or Yellow Thorn. 



The Laburnum (Cytisus laburnum, L.,) is a well-known tree. It was in- 

 troduced to this country in the sixteenth century. The wood is hard, of a 

 beautiful dark colour, and takes a fine polish. It is occasionally worked up 

 into fancy articles ; but hitherto its use for cabinet-work has not been so 

 general as its beauty merits. Clover is so well known as to need only a 

 passing mention. It is the produce of several species of Trifolium, T. 

 pratense, L., T. repens, L., and T. incarnation, L., being the commonest 

 cultivated in England. Large quantities of the seed of the Dutch clover, T. 

 repens, are annually imported to this^ country from Germany and Holland. 

 Clover seed is also imported from America. The total importations of 

 this commodity amounted, in 1860, to upwards of 264,000 cwts. 



The flowers of Melilotus cozrulea, Lam., contain a volatile principle which 

 gives the peculiar flavour and odour to the celebrated Chapziger cheese of 

 Switzerland. The seeds of the Fenngueek, ( Trigonella fanum-grazcum, h.J } 

 a native of the South of France, are emollient, and are employed by the 

 Arabs in fomentations. Of Indigo, the produce of Indigofera tinctoria, L., 

 and I. Anil., L., so much has been written, and its value is so well known, 

 that it is needless to enlarge upon it in this paper. The plant is a native of 

 the East Indies, from whence we receive our largest imports ; but it is 

 cultivated more or less in all tropical countries. The tubers of Psoralea 

 esculenta, Pursh., are eaten by the Black Foot Indians, and other tribes of: 

 N. America, and are called " Navet de Prairie," or Prairie turnips. They 

 are about 7 or 8 inches long, and 3 or 4 inches in circumference. The 



