100 The Dawn of a New Constructive Era 



Best Beans 

 for Different 

 Localities 



Then we have another one of the hybrids, called the "Osceola" 

 bean. That is something between the Lyon and the old Florida 

 bean, and was produced by the Florida Experiment Station. It has 

 the black, velvety pod of the old Florida bean, but has a very much 

 larger seed ; nearly as large as the Lyon, or Chinese, or Yokohama. 



In general, the varieties having the large, black, velvety pods 

 have one characteristic which is very desirable — the Lyon bean, the 

 Chinese bean and the Yokohama bean, those large hairy-podded 

 ones, very often split open when they are growing on the vines and 

 beginning to get ripe. The black, velvety pods do not split open, 

 and therefore are somewhat better. 



For the extreme South, the old Florida bean and the Lyon 

 bean are among the best we have. From here north to central 

 Mississippi or Alabama the more productive beans are the 

 Osceola and the Chinese. Still further north to Tennessee and 

 in Georgia the Yokohama and Georgia beans will be found more 

 satisfactory. We have so many of these varieties now that we can 

 find something which is suited to practically every locality where 

 velvet beans may be wanted. 



We do not need to discuss the varieties here extensively, be- 

 cause they will be more fully discussed in a bulletin which is soon 

 to be issued by the Department. 



I want to call your attention to this difference in the varie- 

 ties, because a great many growers, all the way from here to 

 Kentucky, have sent in orders for one bushel, five bushels, 120 

 bushels, of "velvet beans," not specifying any variety. When they 

 are planted they are sure to be disappointed. When the Yoko- 

 ihama and Georgia varieties are planted in south Florida they 

 waste half a year". When you plant velvet beans, select the va- 

 riety suited to your particular locality. The best variety for any 

 locality is one which will continue growing without stopping to 

 mature the seed until just before the vines are to be killed by 

 frost. That day, of course, is a little uncertain, but it can be ap- 

 proximated for each locality. 



The beans produce an immense yield. We have very little 

 data giving specified yields of hay and beans, from the fact that 

 the crop is very rarely cleaned from the fields. The vine is long 

 and difficult to cut, and it is commonly utilized for grazing. The 

 beans, when they are gathered, are gathered by the hundred 

 pounds ; and it is rare that they are gathered clean, because when 



