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ACCLIMATISATION TRIALS OF LIMA BEANS 



(Pbaseolus lunatus). 



The following varieties of Lima beans were received from 

 Philadelphia U. S. A. on 23rd July, 1918: 



Xo. 1. Siebert's Early. 



,, 2. Purple improved bush, 



„ 3. Small Lima or Sieva pole. 



„ -4. Dreer's Wonder bush. 



„ 5. Fordham's bush. 



„ 6. King of the Garden. 



,y 7. Dreer's improved pole. 



., S. Henderson's bush. 



On 31st July, 8 beds, 18 feet by 3| feet numbered 1 to 8, and 

 labelled, were, after a preliminary liming, sown with 28 seeds of 

 each variety, one for each bed. The soil had been previously 

 manured and had given a crop of maize. 



Bed No. 2 showed no sign of germination, a second sowing, 

 and a trial in pots gave a like result. 



Bed Xo. 7 gave only 6 germinations with shrivelled leaves of 

 no vitality. A second sowing gave nothing. The two beds were 

 dug up. 



During August and September, the remaining six beds were 

 kept weeded, and stirred, each plant receiving a light earthing up. 



In the records kept, the growth of the beds is set down as 

 follows : 



N"o. 1. Siebert's Early. 



30th Sepictnher. ''"The plants have come up very strong — 

 a strong climber, with heavy foliage and a fair show of flowers, 

 A sparse crop of ])road pods 3^ to 4 inches long, with a kink at 

 the tip — with two or three beans per poil, which, I fear, will not 

 develop to full-size seed."' 



lofh Odoher. (76 days from sowing), four mature pods were 

 plucked, but only two beans were found fit for seed. 



Xo. 3. Small Lima or Sieva Pole. 



30th September. A thriving plant; a strong and healthy 

 climber, by far the best of all the Limas, Very heavy foliage with 

 abundance of small pods 2 to 3 inches long, ^ inch broad, Xot 

 attacked by white fungus, which is prevalent on neighbouring beds. 

 In this case, as in Xo. 1, the foliage was so dense that it had to be 

 thinned down, and the stakes had to be braced to (support the 

 Aveight. The excessive flowering had also to be checked by pinch- 

 ing back the tops — which also tends to strengthen growth below. 



Xo. 4. Dreer's Wonder Bush. 



30th September. As its name implies, does not climb. Only 

 a few beans are showing: they are very broad (one inch) with a 

 pronounced kink at the tip. Spots of rust are noticeable on many 

 pods. 



