288 



CITRUS FRUITS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



Fig. 67. Velvet bean pods, two-Hfths natural 

 size, and a nitrogen nodule, natural size. 



Velvet Bean (Mucuna utilis Wal- 

 lich) . The former is a well-known 

 native plant, while the latter was 

 introduced into America, presum- 

 ably about 1869. The Cowpeas 

 (Vigna catjang) are also some- 

 times grown, but the presence of 

 the nematode worm, already re- 

 ferred to, so frequently interferes 

 with their growth that it cannot 

 be recommended for all soils. So 

 far as known this nematode does 

 not attack orange roots, but it is 

 frequently present in the soil in 

 the roots of native plants. 



It is generally necessary to get 

 rid of the cover crop before the 

 picking season. This may be done 

 by cutting it and allowing it to lie 

 on the surface until it decays par- 

 tially, or it may 

 be harrowed in- 

 to the soil if 

 dead and dry. 



I. VELVET BEAN 



(MUCUNA 

 UTILIS). 



The velvet 

 bean makes 

 a n enormous 

 growth, and, in 

 autumn, after 

 being 



