THE GEORGIA VELVET BEAN 



Several cases of "mulnlion" wiiich have been tlioroughly investif^aletl can be regarded as due 

 to the loss of a single genetic factor. Among these cases the best known is the occurrence of the 

 "false wild oat" in pure strains of oats, which was the subject of a masterly monograph by Nilsson- 

 Ehle. It appears not imi)robable that the loss of a genetic factor may occur occasionalh- in 

 almost any [)ure line of plants. Sometimes the results are of agricultural value. 



The Florida velvet bean (Slizolohium deeringianum) has long been grown in Georgia as a soil 

 improver and cattle food; usually from Florida seed, since it often fails to rijien seed farther 

 north. Several farmers in Georgia, however, seem to have foimd an earlier strain in their fields, 

 three years or more ago, and this strain is now extensively grown there. At tlie left, above, is a 

 photograi)h of one plant of the Florida velvet bean, taken at Gninesville, Fla., on Sept. 19, 1914; 

 all plants were similar and bore flowers and young pods. At the right is a ])hotograi)h, taken on 

 the same day, of one of three plants of the Georgia velvet bean, from .seeds planted on the same 

 day and in the same row as the Florida. The Georgia jilants had droi)ped their leaves and ripened 

 all their pods, which were dry and ready to pick. In time of ajjpearance of the first flowers, they 

 were as early as the Ycjkohama bean and nearly two months earlier than the Florida. From 

 crosses between the Yokohama and the Florida, I conclude that the Florida lias a factor for late 

 flowering, H, which the Yokohama does not jmssess. Hence it may be sui)posed that the Georgia 

 velvet arf)se from the Florida velv-et by the "spontanef)us" loss of the factor H. Since H is domi- 

 nant, the early plants would appear only in the second generation. ^John Belling, Agricultural 

 Experiment Station, Gainesville, Florida. (Frontispiece.) 



