212 



PhysaliBspp. Tomato. 



^ \ anoua species of Physalis are always to be seen in the markets. 

 The fruits are called "tomatoes," and are used to make a dressing- for 

 meats, etc., or are combined with red peppers to make chili sauce (PI 

 XXVIII, figs. 3, 1.) 



Explanation of Plato XXVIII.-Fig. 1, tamarinds ; flg. 2, lortillaor conn-ako; figs. B, 4, ■' toma- 

 toes "—fruits (if I'usalis spp. 



Phaseolus spp. F]{[ Jm 



The bean is, next to corn, the most important food plant of Mexico. 

 In fact it is used all over the country. Xo meal is complete without a 

 dish of beans, while many a meal consists of nothing else. It is culti- 

 vated everywhere, from the low tropical plains to the high mountain 

 tops. Many varieties are found in the markets, some of which undoubt- 

 edly have been introduced into cultivation from native plants, while 

 others have certainly come from foreign countries, but have long been 

 grown in Mexico. 



Nearly 50 native species of Phaseolus have been reported from Mex- 

 ico and Central America, and I have no doubt but many yet remain 

 undescribed. 1 collected myself some 10 wild species, about half of 

 which I have not definitely identified. As is well known, some of our 

 most common varieties of beans came originally from several of the 

 wild species of Mexico. 



I am quite sure that new and valuable varieties suitable for cultiva- 

 tion in the United States might be obtained from the markets of cer- 

 tain cities of Mexico. It seems to me that some money might very 

 profitably be spent by the Department of Agriculture in connection 

 with its seed introduction in obtaining and distributing some of the 

 best varieties of Mexican beans. 



In compliance with my instructions, I obtained about 20 varieties, 

 but only in small quantities, as my equipment and the fund at my dis- 

 posal did not warrant a greater outlay. 



I have compared my beans with the large series in the seed collection 

 of the Department of Agriculture, but L do not find over three vari- 

 eties represented. In the accompanying list 1 have briefly described 

 them as to color and have in most cases given the Mexican name of 

 each. 1 



No. 49. FjU.TOL AfASTEADO. 



This is a small pnrpiish bean, Bomewhat mottled with buff, much used at Bolafios. 

 No. 50. Fri.fol. 



A small roundish pinkish bean also used at Bolafios. 

 No. 83. Frijol hoktklano. 



A small buff bean sold at Colotlau. 

 No. 104. FRIJOL blanco (Phaseolus lunatus L. ?). 



A dwarf white bean cultivated at Acaponeta. Apparently the same form as 

 cultivated in this country. 



1 The numbers refer to the Ethnobotanic collections of the author 



