14 BULLETIN 119, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



BOTANY. 



PTiaseolus calcaratus was first described by Roxburgh (1832, p. 289) 

 from plants grown in the Botanic Gardens near Calcutta. The seeds 

 were obtained from cultivated plants in Mysore and are described 

 as "dark brownish black," a description which agrees with No. 

 32640. 



Four botanical varieties have been described by Prain (1897, pp. 

 424-425). PTiaseolus calcaratus major Prain, from the hills of northern 

 India and Burma, is distinguished by its larger flowers ; P. calcaratus 

 glaber Prain (P. gldber Roxburgh), originally from Mauritius but 

 occurring also in northern India, lacks the hairiness on the leaves 

 and stems; P. calcaratus rwmbaiya Prain is a variety with short 

 erect or spreading stems, cultivated in the Khasi Hills of Burma 

 under the name Rumbaiya. P. torosus Roxburgh, cultivated in 

 Nepal, is said to be very similar and probably a mere form of Rum- 

 baiya, differing only in having the pods torose. The seeds of P. 

 torosus are described as short and subcylinclric and of a pale cream 

 color. P. calcaratus gracilis Prain is a wild form, with slender smooth 

 stems and rather narrow leaflets. 



The species is evidently more variable than the varieties intro- 

 duced during the past 13 years would indicate. 



INTRODUCTIONS. 



Brief notes and descriptions of the varieties of the rice bean secured 

 mainly by the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction are here 

 given. 



S. P. I. No. 



6564. From Ichang, China, 1901. "Grows on the mountains between the Indian 

 corn. Largely takes the place of rice; is also cooked with vegetables before 

 fully dry." Received May, 1901. 



This lot of seed contained three varieties as to seed color, which are de- 

 scribed under Nos. 13381, 13382, and 13383. 



13380. From the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, where it has been grown 

 since about 1904. The original seed was secured from Anniston, Ala., where 

 it was said to occur spontaneously. At the Alabama Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station it has been called "Alabama bean" and on the station farm 

 volunteers year after year. This variety makes a solid mass 2 feet deep when 

 planted in 3-foot rows. At Arlington farm only a few pods had matured 

 when the plant was killed by frost in 140 days; seeds straw colored. 



The same variety has been secured from Mr. Clarendon Davis, of Hunts- 

 ville, Ala., who writes: 



I believe this will prove a valuable crop. It will take one year more to 

 prove this. The mere fact of the seed remaining sound on ground all winter 

 will prove very valuable for hog pasture, and they will reseed themselves. 

 From what I know of this bean I think it equal to cowpeas for hay, and the 

 fact of its reseeding itself or the seeds remaining on the ground sound until 

 they are eaten would put us in a position to compete with any pea-fed hogs 

 of the West. I now have about 40 or 50 pounds of this seed. My original 

 start was a pod or two. I will plant some in February in wheat. I can not 

 understand why this bean was imported, as it is very rare and only found 

 on the tops of mountains. In fact, I have found only one mountaineer who 

 has ever seen it. 



