OTHER HOT-SEASON ANNUAL LEGUMES 549 



If sown at the beginning of the summer rains, the seed 

 need not be covered. It must not be covered too deeply, 

 else the young plants will not be able to reach the surface. 

 By sowing at the beginning of the summer two crops may 

 be secured in Florida. 



If cut for hay when the first flowers appear, the stubble 

 will send up a second crop, which may be saved for 

 seed, and enough seed will scatter to insure a crop next 

 season. On very rich ground 4 cuttings in one season 

 with a total yield of 4630 pounds to the acre were obtained 

 at Charleston, South Carolina. The seed may also be 

 scattered in the corn rows at the time of the last cultiva- 

 tion or at the beginning of the rains in June. Then, after 

 the corn has been stripped or cut for fodder, the beggar- 

 weed may be mown for hay or harvested for seed. The 

 crop should be cut for hay when it is about 3 or 4 feet 

 high, or at the beginning of the blooming period. If cut 

 after full bloom, many of the lower leaves will have 

 fallen and much of the best part of the crop will be lost. 



Hulled seed is now commercial, being produced wholly 

 in Florida. 



667. The jackbean (Canavalia ensiformis). The jack- 

 bean is a bushy, semi-erect annual plant, growing to a 

 height of 2 to 4 feet. Its stems are rather coarse and 

 become woody toward the base. The rather thickish 

 leaves have a decidedly bitter taste. The flowers are 

 purple, borne near the base of the stem, so that most of 

 the pods hang low. When mature, the pods are hard and 

 firm, 9 to 14 inches long, each containing 10 to 14 seeds. 

 These are pure white, with a brown hilum. The plant 

 will withstand much drought, and is remarkably free from 

 insects and fungous diseases, but is affected by root-knot. 



The jackbean is a native of the West Indies and the 



