16 FARMER'S BOOK OF GRASSES 



Medicinal] v it is said to be used in <sr)\ 



ecac and is there called white ipecac. In 1863, while superinten- 

 dent of the laboratory at Mobile for preparing medicines for the 

 southern army, Dr. Rohmer prepared and furnished the powder- 

 ed roots of this plant to the surgeons, who testify that "it answer- 

 fid every '..purpose.".. It belongs to the order Rubiaeese with cof- 

 fee, madder, ipecacuanha, cinchona and other medicinal plants. 

 A heavy crop of this plant, plowed under in the fall just before 

 frost Or immediately after being killed, should be followed the 

 next spring by tobaeod, corn or potatoes. 



IV. THE BEAN TRIBE. 



These are mostly twining herbs bearing two-valved pods, not 

 jointed. The fleshy cotyledons rising above ground in germin- 

 ation. We have seven native genera of this family. 



PHASEOLUS. Bean, Kidney Bean. 



., '7 



Of this we have /four natives: P. PERENNIS, 2. P. DIVERSI- 

 -FOLIUS, P. HELVOLUS and P. SINUATUS, plants of considera- 

 ble value for cattle. 



Of the more valuable cultivated species may be named P. 

 YULGARIS, Common Kidney, String, Pole, or Snap Bean ; P. 

 NANUS, Dwarf or Field Bean; P. LUNATUS, Sieva, Lima or 

 Butter Bean ; all much esteemed for the table ; the green pods 

 of the first two and green seeds of the last being used. In this 

 connection may be mentioned also P. MULTIFLORUS, Scarlet 

 Runner or Spanish Bean, with many showy white or bright scar- 

 let flowers; and P. CARACAKLA, Snail Flower; the latter of lit- 

 tle use, the former valuable for table and forage. There are ma- 

 ny other cultivated varieties. 



DOLICHOS. 



D. L.ABLAB, Egyptian or Black Bean from India, and D. 

 CHINENSIS, China Bean with its variety melanophthahnns', Black- 

 eyed Bean are useful cultivated plants. Our native species D. 

 MUI/TIFLORUS, Many flowered Bean, somewhat rare, might be 

 cultivated. 



Our native Galaetias, Milk Pea, Clito-ria, Butterfly Pea, and 

 Centrosema, Spurred Butterfly Pea are common and valuable, 

 but they yield too little to justify cultivation. 



SOUTHERN FIELD PEA. 



Of all the varieties of Beans, however, there are none more 

 valuable than most of those known in the South under the mis- 

 nomer "Field Pea" Of these there are many varieties. A va- 



