12 AMERICAN VARIETIES OF GARDEN BEANS. 



Phaseolus coccineus (P. multifiorus) , known as the Runner bean in 

 Europe and as the Multiflora or Scarlet Runner bean in America, is 

 represented throughout the world by perhaps 50 or more distinct 



varieties. 



Vigna sesquipedalis {Dolichos sesquipedalis) , the Asparagus bean, 

 one of 30 or more species of the genus Vigna, is a comparatively 

 unimportant and unknown plant in agriculture and is represented 

 throughout the world by possibly a dozen distinct varieties. 



Vicia faha, the Broad bean, one of the 100 or more species of 

 the genus Vicia, is represented throughout the world by several hun- 

 dred distinct varieties. To the same genus also belong Vicia sativa, 

 commonly known as spring vetch or tare, and Vicia villosa, com- 

 monly known as hairy or winter vetch. 



FIELD SPECIES. 



Species not described in this bulletin and which are more impor- 

 tant as farm crops than as garden vegetables include in America the 

 following types: 



Vigna sinensis, the cowpea,« one of 30 or more species of the 

 genus Vigna, very closely resembles Vigna sesquipedalis, mentioned 

 as a garden variety. It is represented by a great number of distinct 

 types, though only a few have yet found their way into print, the 

 total number of distinct varieties probably aggregating at least 50. 

 This species is chiefly used in this country as a forage and soiling 



crop. 



Glycine hispida, the soy bean,^ one of 15 to 20 species of the genus 

 Glycme, is represented by possibly 40 distinct varieties. This species 

 is used in this country almost entirely as a soiling and forage crop, 

 but it is largely cultivated in Japan and other oriental countries as 

 food for man. 



Mucuna pruriens var. utilis, the Velvet bean, one of 20 to 30 species 

 of the genus Mucuna, is represented by several distinct varieties and 

 is useful in the South as a soiling and forage crop. 



Canavalia ensiformis, the Jack bean, one of 17 or more species of 

 the genus Canavalia, is an unimportant plant in agriculture, being 

 used only to a small extent in the South as a forage and soiling crop. 

 There seem to be no well-defined varieties of this species in cultiva- 

 tion. 



Dolichos lahlah, the Hyacinth bean, one of 40 to 50 species of the 

 genus Dolichos, is represented by perhaps 6 or more varieties, all of 



a See Farmers' Bulletins No. 89, "Cowpeas," and No. 278, " Leguminous Crops for 

 Green Manuring;" also Bulletin No. 17 of the Bureau of Plant Industry, "Some 

 Diseases of the Cowpea." 



b See Bulletin No. 98 of the Bureau of Plant Industry, "Soy Bean Varieties." 



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