326 CHAPTER XX 



oured varieties the Red Canadian Wonder is probably the most 

 outstanding. 



VELVET BEAN (Stizolobium deeringianum) . 



This plant is often called Florida Velvet Bean because of 

 its early cultivation there. It is a vigorous growing summer 

 annual, having much branched twining stems which may reach 

 a height of 20 feet and upwards. The dark purple flowers 

 are borne on slender pendent racemes. Two distinct types of 

 pods are j)roduced, one covered with a dense black velvety pub- 

 escence, as in the Florida and Georgia varieties, and the other 

 type has a white to greyish pubescence, e.g., Chinese and 

 Yokohama varieties. The latter shatters badly. The pods of 

 the commoner types are short, 2 to 3 inches in length, some- 

 what constricted about the seed, and contain most commonly 

 three to five grey or mottled seeds, although white and black 

 seeded varieties are also knowm. Early and late varieties are 

 found. The Florida variety is the one commonly grown in 

 South Africa, although a white-seeded variety is found in Zout- 

 pansburg. The velvet bean is considerably later in maturing 

 than cowpeas (kaffir beans) and soy beans usually grown in the 

 Union. An early variety more suitable for many districts 

 might be produced by crossing Florida and Chinese. At 

 present it is so late in maturing that it produces seed only in 

 the Lowveld, where it is grown to a limited extent. It should 

 be sown at the rate of 30 to 50 lbs. per acre when grown for 

 green-manuring or as a smother crop to be harvested for fodder. 

 In America it is sometimes used to smother out quick grass. 

 On account of its entangled growth it is extremely difficult fo 

 harvest. The stems are generally cut by means of a spade. If 

 used for hay, the crop must be harvested before any of the 

 pods mature. Its use for silage when grown with maize is 

 advocated by some, and in the United States it is sometimes 

 pastured off for cattle and pigs. 



MUNG BEAN (Phascolus aureus). 



This is an erect summer growing annual legume introduced 

 from India. In some localities it has given excellent results, 

 promising to replace cowpeas in South African agriculture. In 

 some respects it resembles the soy bean, in others the cowpea. 

 The seed, small and of a green colour, makes an excellent soup, 

 but is very subject to depredations by weevils. Being of an 



