CONTENTS. 



Page. 



The cultivated species of Vigna 7 



The botanical history of the cultivated vignas 9 



Asparagus b ean 9 



Cowpea 10 



Catjang 11 



Desirable characters in varieties of cowpeas 14 



Variability of the cowpea 15 



Distinctive characters of cowpea varieties 19 



Habit of plant 19 



Stems 20 



Leaves ■ 20 



Flowers 21 



Seeds 21 



Pods 23 



Life period 24 



Malformations 24 



Susceptibility and resistance to diseases 25 



The cowpea flower and its pollination 25 



The origin of new varieties 27 



Similarity in habit of varieties from the same source 28 



Natural crosses 30 



Artificial hybrid cowpeas of known origin 33 



Agricultural history of the cowpea and its varieties in America 34 



Methods of testing different varieties 37 



The best varieties of cowpeas 38 



Commercial varieties of cowpeas 43 



Names that have been applied to varieties of cowpeas and related species 44 



Synopsis of varieties by seed colors 72 



Catalogue and descriptions of varieties , 75 



Conclusions 142 



Index 145 



229 



5 



