1908.] 



Phaseolus Lunatus Beans. 



725 



to yield prussic acid, and as it seemed desirable that the matter 

 should be further investigated, a request was made to the 

 Board of Agriculture for samples of Rangoon beans as sold 

 throughout the United Kingdom for feeding purposes. A 

 series of such samples, collected mainly in Scotland and the 

 North of England by one of the Board's Inspectors, was 

 received last July. 



The Imperial Institute also obtained a number of samples of 

 white Burma beans and other white beans of Phaseolus lunatus 

 from firms in London and Paris, so that the inquiry could be 

 made as general as possible. 



The results of the examination of these samples are given 

 in the following table : — 



Samples received from the Board of Agriculture. 



Prussic Acid. 

 Per cent. 



Red Rangoon beans, obtained at Leith... ... ... 0*024 



White ... ... ... Traces, too small to 



estimate. 



Hand-picked white Rangoon beans, obtained in New- 

 castle ... 0*020 



White Rangoon beans, obtained in Newcastle ... ... 0*018 



Samples received from London Dealers. 



Prussia Acid. 

 Per cent. 



-j-a . . f White Rangoon beans 0*025 



firm A ] to ... , 



I ,, hand-picked ... ... 0*027 



Firm B. — White Burma beans 0*026 



Firm C. — Tinned white Lima beans of American origin ... None. 



Samples Received from Seedsmen in Paris, and Guaranteed 

 to be Produced by Phaseolus lunatus, 



Prussic Acid. 



Haricot de Lima, large cream . None. 



„ Sieva ••• Traces, too small to 



estimate. 



These results indicate that, whilst there are varieties of the 

 white beans of Phaseolus lunatus on the market which yield no 

 prussic acid, some of the white Rangoon or Burma beans at 

 present available in commerce yield this substance in quantities 

 of some importance having regard to their use as a feeding 

 stuff, whilst others, such as the white Rangoon beans obtained 

 at Leith, yield mere traces. 



