13 



VELA'ET IJEAN. 



Tlie plot of velvet bean in the uarden witlistood the hot, dry spell of 

 weather better than anything else except the soy bean, up to about 

 August 15, but by September 5 the leaves were drying u]> and drop- 

 j)ing, and by October 1 the plants were mostly dead. The seed was 

 planted in hills about 4 feet apart each way. The vines covered the 

 ground completely and vsome of them grew to be 10 or li* feet long. Xo 

 seed was matured. 



SOY BEAN. 



The soy bean promises to be one of the best foraae plants for this sec- 

 tion. Three varieties, early, medium, and late, were tested in the station 

 garden. The early variety grew to be from 8 to 12 inches high and the 

 plants were well tilled with pods and seed. The medium variety grew to 

 be from 8 to 12 inches tall and produced a very heavy yield of seed. The 

 late variety proved a vigorous grower. The plants were from 24 to 30 

 inches high, but they matured only a few beans. This variety did not 

 stand the dry, hot weather quite as well as the velvet bean. 



METCALFE BEAN. 



(Phaseohis retusus.) 



A few seeds of the Metcalfe bean were received from the Division of 

 Agrostology and a few from Mr, J. K. Metcalfe, of Silver City, IS". Mex. 

 Three plantings were made, March 21, April 11, and April 18, 

 respectively. It was given the best possible chance, in the hope that 

 it would do well in this section. Good stands were secured, and the 

 vines grew nicely, some of them reaching 8 or 10 feet in length. Up 

 to July 1 there was every indication of good results, but very soon 

 after the drought began the vines showed evidence of injury, and by 

 August 1 most of them were either dead or very much dried up. 



NATIVE HORSE BEAN, 



(Phaseolua angustissimus. ) 



Seed was also received from Mr. Metcalfe of a beau which stockmen 

 here recognized as that known in New Mexico and Arizona as the horse 

 bean. The seeds were planted April 11 and produced only a few 

 plants that grew vigorously and promised good results, but they were 

 injured by drought and produced no blooms, although the vines con- 

 tinued green until early in August. By October 15 they were all dead 

 and the roots did not revive after the rain appeared in the fall. 



LENTIL. 



From seeds planted April 11 a good stand was secured. The growth 

 was not vigorous, only from 6 to 8 inches tall. Seed formed, but the 

 plot was on the bank of the "dry creek" mentioned, and in an over- 

 flow all the plants were destroyed. 



