184? BEANS. 
Soy is chiefly prepared in China and Japan ; but 
that imported from Japan is considered preferable to 
any other. The quantity annually vended at the East 
India Company's sales is from eight hundred to two 
thousand gallons, at an average price of sixteen or 
eighteen shillings per gallon. 
198. BEANS (Vicia faba) are well-known seeds, origin- 
ally introduced from Persia) of which there are several kinds 
or varieties; some of these are cultivated in Jields, and others 
in gardens. 
Field, or horse-beans, as they are frequently called, 
are small and somewhat round. The cultivation of 
them is pursued to a considerable extent. They are 
esteemed, in many respects, an advantageous crop to 
the farmer, and will thrive on any land where the soil 
is sufficiently stiff. They are usually sown in the month 
of February ; sometimes in the autumn ; but, in case 
of severe frost, all the plants that are not well and 
deeply covered with snow will perish. There is also 
much uncertainty in the crop, owing to the state of the 
weather in the spring and summer ; and particularly 
to the ravages of small black insects, myriads of which 
are frequently seen to crowd the tender tops of the 
plants. 
The bean-harvest is seldom completed till nearly the 
end of September, owing to the bulk and succulence 
of the plants ; and the produce is from two and a half 
to five quarters per acre. 
There are several varieties of field-beans ; but the 
fine and very small ones usually bear the highest price. 
Bean flour is not only thought more nutritive, but is 
found to be more abundant than that of oats. Beans 
are chiefly applied to the feeding of horses, hogs, and 
other domestic animals ; and it is supposed that meal- 
men often grind them amongst wheat, the flour of 
which is to be made into bread. By some persons 
they are roasted, and adopted as a substitute for coffee. 
