129 



Eeferrinp- aoain to the above extract from the Bulletin of the 

 Imperial Insfitute, it is there stated that the bean crop in Burma 

 takes 5 months to mature. 



As a matter of fact, with three successive crops, the writer 

 lias found that the crops mature in between 75 to 85 days and the 

 piekinos are heaviest between 90 and 100 days. 



This is attributable, in the writer's opinion, to the fact that 

 the plants were prown on stakes and not left to trail on the ground, 

 as is the ease in Burma. The beans grown on stakes are more open 

 to the action of the air and sun, and the maturing of the pods is 

 therefore much more rapid. 



The results amply justify the extra expense of buying and 

 puttin<^ up the stakes and, moreover, the beds are better accessible 

 and in case of outl^reak of disease it is much easier to watch and 

 to keep in check. The stakes themselves serve, to a certain ex- 

 tent to o-nard the crop against fungus and insects by a smearing ot 

 them with strong Bordeaux mixture made adhesive by the addition 

 of treacle, or sago. 



Before closino- these notes the writer would call attention to 

 the fact that as sh'own by the crop records given above, three crops 

 were obtained from the 31st July, 1918 to the 12tli April, (date of 

 writino-) and that the fourth crop now partly planted or being 

 planted, should, if all goes as in the past, be ready for harvesting 

 by the 12th of July i.i. four crops in less than one year irom the 

 planting of the first crop. 



Conclusions. 

 Whether due to absence of fungus, or to more severe selection 

 of the seed used, or to better weather conditions, the improved 

 qualitv of the Lima bean at present being hai-vested is manitest 

 and it bears proof that the bean has not suffered degeneration 

 through change of climate and of habitat, and it may now be con- 

 sidered as definitely acclimatised. ^ Mathieu. 



A PROGRESS REPORT ON THE CULTIVATION OF 



THE GREATER YAM, DIOSCOREA ALATA -IN 



THE BOTANIC GARDENS, SINGAPORE. 



When reporting upon the cultivation of the Greater Yam in 

 the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, in 1917, attention was called to 

 the circumstance that the plants had ])een grown spaced ^ '^> ^ ^ee^' 

 a-d that in competition between each other at such a distance 

 they had produceu smaller tubers than in the earlier years. But 

 snace forbad aoain in 1918 that the distances between them should 

 be iici'S, and consequently the yields of ,1816, for instance 

 were not attained. Moreover there was not -liable quite so mh 

 manure; and the want of it has a so had an effect The 1918 croT> 

 was consequently less abundant than the crops of 1916 and 191?. 



