306 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



THE ROr.UST BEAN. 



Special Bnlletin No. 108. 



PRANK A. SrRAGG AND E. E. DOWN. 

 DESCRIPTION. 



The Robust is a variety of common white navy bean that has con- 

 sistently ontyielded all other varieties comparerl with it at tlie Michio^an 

 Agricultural College. It originated from a healthy individual plant 

 that wais selected from among a lot of commercial beaiis containing 

 mosaic, in 1908. 



The Robust takes more time to develop a root system, but in tlie end 

 develops a larger root area than ordinary varieties. The earlier varieties 

 are first to set bloom, wliile later tlie Robust blooms profusely and has 

 a very much larger setting of ]>od'S. The Robust cannot be said to resist 

 drought any more than other varieties. In case a test is planted on 

 saiidy isoil and drought kills the lieans in late summer, other varieties 

 may yield more because they set their pods earlier and mature more 

 beans before the hot spell. 



On the other hand, the Robust is able to set pods in a hotter sun than 

 can the common varieties i)i-o\'ide(l the soil contains enough moisture 

 at that time to maintain ])lant saj). In 1010 the Robust was the only 

 variety that had a good setting of pods at this Experiment Station, as 

 the other varieties dropped their flowers during a hot spell at blooming 

 time. Most of them lost the second setting of flowers and failed com- 

 pletely. IMant selections were made fi-oni the Robust and from some of 

 the better commercial varieties that summer, and planted in plant-rows 

 during the following season (1017). 



The leaves of the Robust are usually more Avriukled and drawn in at 

 the edges than are those of other varieties, which may be quite flat. The 

 leaves of most ^'arieties turn yellow and drop more or less all summer, 

 probably due to baicterial blight. The Robust holds its foliage and main- 

 tains it in a profuse development until a few days before harvest time, 

 when the foliage turns yellow and drops off as a whole. Because of this 

 characteristic, it will normally withstand a frost that will kill the leaves 

 without injuring the pods. The foliage then opens up, and the pods ]na- 

 ture rapidly. A month before harshest the Robust is normally picked out 

 as the greenest variety in a series. 



OTHER EXPERIMENT STATIONS TEST ROBUST BEANS. 



Besides the tests carried on at this Experiment Station, the Robust 

 has been tested by several other stations, notably New York, Connecticut, 

 Rhode Island, Quebec, Minnesota, and Iowa, These stations give favor- 

 able reports, saying that the Robust variety yields more than the average 



