Leguminosa.

LATHYRUS PURPUREO.

SWEET PEA.

Class XVII. DIADELPHIA. Order IV. DECANDRIA. Gen. Char. Stem, angular., Leaves, longly-petiolate, one pair. Leaflets, lanceolate, somewhat pubescent, mucronate. Tendril, solitary. Stipules, minute. Flowers, from six to eight, racemose, longer than the leaves, purplish blue.

Spe. Char. Style, flat, vellous on the upper side, dilated upwards. Calyx, with two upper segments shortest.

THIS is a perennial plant; the stalk, or stem, rises from four to eight feet in height; it is slender, branched, twining, and clings to other plants or shrubs near it; the petals are five, of a bluish purple color, and stand upon short footstalks, closely embracing the stem; and in flowering time give a very beautiful appearance.

This species of Pea is said to be a native of Germany, where it was formerly employed as food, but produced such terrible effects upon the consumers, that its use was forbidden by an edict from the government. It was admitted that the flower from this tribe, mixed with one-half of wheat, makes fine and delicious bread, which at first appears harmless, but after a time it brings on a surprising rigidity of the limbs, loss of action, stupidity; and the persons become cripples for the remainder of their lives. Swine fattened with this meal, lose the use of their legs entirely, but continue to grow fat, lying on the ground. Fabroni says that swine lose the use of their limbs, and become pitiable monsters, by eating this flower.

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Propagation and Culture. The Pea has been cultivated in this country from the time of its first settlement: it was first introduced here by the early settlers from England. Fuller informs us that Peas were first introduced into England from Holland, and were only considered fit dainties for the "lords and noblemen, as they came so far, and cost so dear." The use of the Pea in cookery, is familiar to every one. In one variety, called the Sugar Pea, the inner tough film of the pods is wanting, and such pods, when young, are frequently boiled with the seeds or peas within them, and eaten in the manner of kidney beans. This variety is comparatively new,. having been introduced about the middle of the seventeenth century.

The Pea is the most esteemed legume in field cultivation, both for its seed and haulm, and was cultivated by the Greeks and Romans, in the earliest ages of history, though its culture appears to have diminished since the more general introduction of herbage plants and roots; and excepting large towns for gathering green, and in some places for boiling, the Pea has given way to the bean, or to a mixture of Peas and beans. There are various inducements, however, to the cultivation of Peas in dry warm soils, near large towns. When the crop is good, and gathered green, few pay better. The ground, after the Peas have been removed, is readily prepared' for turnips, which also pay well as a retail crop, near towns; and the haulm is good fodder.

The soil best suited for Peas, is a dry, calcareous salt; it should be in good tilth, not too rich, but light and pliable. In some parts of the country, Peas are often sown after clover-leys, after one furrow, or after corn crops on two furrows, one given in autumn, and' the other early in spring.

The climate required by the Pea is dry and not very warm, for which reason, as the seasons in this country are so very changeable, and oftentimes exceedingly dry and hot in June and July, the Pea is one of the most uncertain of field crops.

Magnoliacea.

LIRIODENDRON TULIPIFERA.

Class XIII.

COMMON TULIP-TREE.

POLYANDRIA. Order III. POLYGYNIA.

Gen. Char. Flowers, sometimes aggregated in a four-leaved involucrum. Calyx, four-toothed. Petals, four. Drupe, with a

two-celled nut.

Spe. Char-Arborescent. Leaves, ovate, acuminate. Involucrum, large, with abcordate leaflets.

THIS magnificent tree rises from eighty to one hundred and forty feet in height; the trunk is smooth, straight, branched towards the top, and covered with a rough, thick, coarse, ash-colored bark; the flowers are produced at the ends of the branches, and resemble the tulip, more than the lily or any other flower; the petals are from six to twenty-seven in number; the outer ones oblong, and the inner ones lanceolate; the leaves are on petioles, large, glossy, and panduriform, or guitar-shaped.

This is one of the largest and most beautiful of American forest trees. The trunk is large, and much valued for lumbering purposes, rising to a great height, without branches, and putting forth, about the middle of May, an abundance of superb flowers, marked with green, yellow and red streaks, which, together with its beautiful foliage, give to the tree a very magnificent appearance. The bark, which is employed in medicine, is of a strongly bitter, and slightly aromatic taste. According to the analysis of Dr. Rogers, it contains gum, resin, muriatic acid, iron, calcareous salt, gum mucus, and fecula. This bark has been long employed, both in domestic and

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