OTHER HOT-SEASON ANNUAL LEGUMES 553 



the Southern States, as it can scarcely compete with 

 the cowpea,. except perhaps in Florida as a green- 

 manure crop. Unfortunately, however, all of the varieties 

 seem much subject to the attack of nematodes. 



670. Moth bean (Phaseolus aconitifolius) . The moth- 

 bean is an annual legume, native of India, where it is 

 grown principally for its seeds, which are used as human 

 food. In habit it forms mats 2 to 3 feet in diameter and 

 12 to 18 inches high, with very numerous viny branches, 

 the lower ones lying prostrate on the ground. The leaves 

 have three leaflets, each divided into 3 to 5 narrow seg- 

 ments. This bean has proved to be exceedingly well 

 adapted to the conditions in northern Texas, where in 

 many ways it is superior to the cowpea. The prostrate 

 habit and immense amount of foliage enable it to cover 

 the ground so completely that there is practically no 

 evaporation of water from the soil. The very viny 

 branches and the persistency with which the leaves are 

 held make an unusually fine quality of hay, which stock 

 of all kinds eat greedily. No difficulty has been found in 

 mowing this plant if cultivated in rows, as is usually neces- 

 sary in semi-arid regions, if the mower be started under 

 the first plant. 



The yield to the acre during the three years in which it 

 was under trial averaged about 2 tons, fully equal to that 

 of the cowpea. Under favorable conditions the pods are 

 produced in large numbers and show no tendency to shatter. 

 The roots are remarkably well provided with tubercles, 

 indicating that the plant is a very efficient nitrogen 

 gatherer. So far as can be ascertained in limited experi- 

 ence with it, it is somewhat more drought resistant than 

 the cowpea, with which crop it will necessarily compete 

 agriculturally. It seems reasonably certain that this 



