Steve Butchart, age 9, of Duluth, Minn., for his question:

HOW DOES THE LENTIL GROW?

Lentils are rich in protein and carbohydrates and are among man’s most nutritious legumes. They are wonderful in soup, casseroles and salads.

The lentil plant grows well in light, dry soil. It shouldn’t be placed in soil that is too rich, since this seems to limit the number of pods the plant produces. The pods look much like those of the pea and bean. The seeds are red brown, gray or black and only a fraction of an inch in size.

The lentil was first cultivated about 2200 B.C. And it is even mentioned in the Bible: In Genesis 25:34, it is reported that Esau sold his birthright for a “pottage of lentils.” The plant now grows in Egypt, western Asia, southern Europe and the United States.