70 



fair condition for winter. From my former trial in 1896, I should judge that sainfoin 

 may prove to be a valuable forage plant for this country. The plant.s are vigorous 

 and it has done well on a small scale. 



Mr. Jas. K. Metcalfe, Silver City, Grant County, N. Mex. : 



The seed was sown l^roadcast in ]May and in August on rich gravelly soil and cov- 

 ered with a heavy garden rake. It produced about half a ton to the acre, and grows 

 about like alfalfa if well irrigated. Nothing will eat it until it is hard frozen. I 

 think it would make a good late winter pasture, as horses, cattle, and sheep eat it to 

 the ground in winter, but in summer time they simply walk through it and only 

 smell of it. 



METCALFE BEAN (Phaseolus retusus) . 



(Plate VI, fig. 2.) 



A prostrate, often trailing, leg-ume. with a very large taproot, com- 

 pound leaves, and purplish flowers. It is found growing wild along 

 the mountain streams of western Texas and New Mexico, The root 

 is considered among the natives as one of the best blood purifiers. 

 Mr. James K. Metcalfe, of Silver City, N. Mex., was the first to 

 introduce this plant into cultivation a few years ago. He secured a 

 few seeds, from the mountains in New Mexico and planted them in his 

 garden. In 1897 the Department received 5 seeds from him and later 

 50 more. Such excellent success crowned his efforts that he offered to 

 let the Department have 20 pounds of seed. This was secured from 

 him at the rate of ^5 per pound. Twenty-two packages of the 

 Metcalfe bean have been distributed to the following States and 

 countries: 



Arizona, Florida, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, 

 Texas, Utah, Washington, Cape Colony, Tunis, Madeira Islands. 



Our special agent in charge of grass and forage plant investiga- 

 tions at Abilene, Tex., reports as follows: 



It is a prodigious grower of vines, but there were no indications of flowers or 

 seed pods. I am afraid the season here may not prove long enough for the produc- 

 tion of flowers or seed. Some of the vines by July 1 grew to be from 8 to 12 feet 

 long. Then the hot and dry winds began and continued for many weeks. Up to 

 August 1 the vines held their own fairly well, then they gave way rapidly and by 

 September 1 even the roots w^ere dead. I shall try the Metcalfe bean again, however, 

 another season and am confident good results will follow with a normal season. 

 At all events, with my present experience, I commend it highly for soiling and 

 hay purposes. 



Our special agent in the State of Washington also reports having 

 succeeded in producing an abundance of vines b}^ the use of irriga- 

 tion, but the seed did not mature. 



In the grass garden of the Department at Washington, D. C, the 

 Metcalfe bean germinated, but made a verj^ slow and feeble growth. 

 Some fews pods were produced, but these, together with the leaves, 

 turned yellow Avith the approach of slight frost in October and 

 dropped off. 



