April 3, 1920.1 



Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 



289 



The Rice Bean {Phaseolus calcaratus) 



• or so-called Jerusalem Pea (P. trinerms). 



A. H. HAYWOOD, Manager, WoUongbar Experiment Farm. 



Attention was directed to the Jerusalem pea by the work of W. Fawcett 

 on " The Banana, its Cultivation and Distribution," in which its use as a 

 green mulch in banana plantations was strongly recommended. 



In 1916 I obtained, through the courtesy of Mr. Edwin Cheel, of the Botanic 

 Gardens. Sydney, a dozen seeds of the rice bean (which is identical with the 



The Rice Bean {Phaseolus caicaratus) in a Banana Plantation. 

 The density of the growth is worth noting. 



Jerusalem pea) and planted them at WoUongbar Experiment Farm in 

 December of that year. The first crop of seed from these was destroyed by 

 field mice, but a second crop was produced the following November, and 

 this provided seed enough for further trials and distribution. 



A Eichmond River banana grower to whom seed was sent, reported on it 

 as follows : — 



" I planted the rice bean seed in rows, between bananas, in virgin, rocky 

 ground, at the same time as the suckers last Jahuary. The vines quickly 



