312 



PULSE. 



supplies of tlie seed from G-ermany and the Mediterranean, and 

 the duty on imports is 2s, 6d. per busheL 



PULSE. 



There are a variety of pulses and leguminous seeds extensively 

 cultivated as food for both man and cattle, and which form an 

 important article in the husbandry of tropical countries. The 

 importance of peas and beans is well appreciated, both by the 

 horticulturists and agricidturists in Europe and our temperate 

 colonies, where, however, they are comparatively of less impor= 

 tance than the smaller pulses and grains are in various tropical 

 countries, such as haricots in the Brazils and IVest Indies ; 

 ground or earth nuts in South America, and especially in Western 

 Africa ; beans of different kinds amongst the miners of Peru r gram 

 {Erviim lens), and dholl (Cajamis), with innumerable varieties 

 of beans and small lentils among the natives of India and Egypt ; 

 and the Carob bean, or St. John's bread {Geratonia siliqua,) in the 

 Mediterranean countries.— (" Jury Eeports.") 



Of leguminous gTains there are various species cultivated and 

 used by the Asiatics, as the Phaseolus Miingo, P. Max and P„ 

 radiatus, which contain much alimentary matter ; the earth-nut 

 {AracJiis hypogaed), which buries its pods under ground after 

 flowering. 



The gram {Cicer arietinuni) which is mentioned by Dr. Christie 

 (" Madras Journal of Science," No. 13) as exuding oxalic acid 

 from all parts of the plant. It is used by the ryots in their 

 curries instead of vinegar. It is the chick pea of England, and 

 chenna of Hindostan. 



Among the most commonly cultivated leguminous plants are 

 the lentil {Ervum Ze??^), horse gram (DolicJws bifiorus, Linn), various 

 species of Cytisics and Cajanus, &c. Many of these are grown 

 in India as fodder plants ; others for their seeds, knowTi as gram, 

 dholl, &c. The Cqjaniis flavus, of Decandolle {Cytisus Cajan), is 

 very generally cultivated along the Western coast of Africa, and 

 continues to bear for three years. Several species of dolichos are 

 used as food in various countries, as 2>. ensiformus in Jamaica, 

 Z>. ticberosus in Martinique, D. hulhosus and D. lignosus in the 

 East Indies. 



The vessels of the North bring to Shangliae a gTcat quantity 

 of a dry paste, known under the name of tanping, the residuum or 

 husk of a leguminous plant called Teuss, from which the Chinese 

 extract oil, and w^hich is used, after being pressed, as manui^e for 

 the ground. Captain H. Biggs, in a communication to the Agri.- 

 Hort. Soc. of India, in 1845, states that of the esculents a large 

 white pea forms the staple of the trade of Shanghae, or nearly so, 

 to the astonishing amount of two and a-half millions sterling. 

 This he gives on the authority of the Eev. Mr. Medhurst, of 

 Shanghae, and Mr. Thorns, British Consul at Ningpo. These 



