76 



AGRICULTURAL VARIETIES OF THE COWPEA, ETC. 



The year 1909 was an exceptionally dry year, very little rain fall- 

 ing from the time the varieties were planted until September 23; 

 consequently the plants were below normal size, though they showed 

 no other suffering from the drought. The season of 1910 was more 

 favorable, though drier than normal. The varieties generally grew 

 about one-fourth larger than in 1909. 



In 1910 about 450 lots of seed from American sources were grown. 

 Some few of these proved to be very distinct varieties, and the more 

 interesting are mentioned or described. Others which differed only 

 in minor points are referred to in only a general way. 



2080. From France, 1899. Seeds maroon. An original seed sample shows a 



mixture of three varieties, two of them cowpeas and one an aspara- 

 gus bean. 



Very strong grower ; leaves large, smooth, and shiny : pods not 

 very numerous, 6 to 8 inches long. — W. R. Beattie. Arlington 



Farm, 1900. 



2081. " Tonquin bean." From France, 1899. Origina seeds oblong, small, 



4 by 5 to 6 mm.: white with a small, indistinct, grayish eye: not 

 matched by any later number. 



Very dwarf ; leaves very small ; pods numerous and ripening very 

 early. — W. R. Beattie, Arlington Farm, 1900. 



2082. Blackeyed Bird\s-Foot. From France, 1899. Original seeds subreniform, 



smooth, 5 by 7 mm. ; white with a small black eye. About half of 

 the seeds have a larger maroon eye. 



Very strong grower; leaves large; pods very numerous, 5 to 8 

 inches long. — W. R. Beattie, Arlington Farm. 1900. 



2932. From Panama, 1899, under the name "Colorado." (Pale brovrn.) Origi- 

 nal seeds buff, half crowder, 6 by 8 mm. 



Has most vigorous growth of any, and continued green until 

 killed bv frost. No pods formed. — ir. R. Beattie, Arlington Farm, 

 1900. 



2934. From Panama, 1899, under the name " Morado " (brown). Original seeds 

 maroon, rhomboid, 6 by 7 mm. 



Very strong grower, trailing close to the ground. Leaves deep 

 green, shiny; pods abundant, 6 to 9 inches long. — TV. R. Beattie, 

 Arlington Farm, 1900. 



2940. Asparagus bean. From Panama, 1S99. Original seeds maroon with 

 chalazal end white, 6 by 8 to 9 mm. No cultural notes. 



3610. From Smyrna, Asiatic Turkey, 1899. Original seeds plump, transversely 

 wrinkled, 6 to 7 by 8 to 10 mm., white with a medium-sized maroon 

 eye. About one-fourth of the seeds have black eyes, but are 

 otherwise similar to the rest. 



Good grower; leaves large; pods long and numerous; ripens 

 late. — W. R. Beattie, Arlington Farm, 1900. 



W. A. Orton 1 records notes of observations at Monetta, S. C, in 

 1901, as follows : "An early cowpea, which made a vigorous growth 

 in the early part of the season, but was all killed by wilt before 

 the end." 



1 Orton, W. A., Bulletin 17, Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1902, 

 p. 19. 



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