14 BULLETIN 119, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
BOTANY. 
Phaseolus 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. 
424-495). Phaseolus calearatus major Prain, from the hills of northern 
India and Burma, is distinguished by its larger flowers; P. calcaratus 
glaber Prain (P. glaber Roxburgh), originally from Mauritius but 
occurring also in northern India, lacks the hairiness on the leaves 
and stems; P. calcaratus rumbaiya 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 subcylindric 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. 
