Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-24
THE VELVET BEAN.

subscriber, T. H. NJ. OF Cannon. Ca,
sends the following inquiry regarding the
velvet bean:
TO Agricultural Editor-I am a sub
scriher 70 the Semi-Weekly Journal and
read the agricultural department with in
I terest. notice a great deal said about the
velvet bean as forage. ] would Ike 10
know n IL could mature after wheat har
vest? Would Il do TO SOW broadcast Ike
COW peas. and where could md the
seed for sale? Does syrup cane seed sowed
broadcast in5ure the land7'
This Is only one OF many other inquiries
calling for information on the subject OF
velvet beans as a forage.
In making response to these inquiries Il
can be better done by fully going into the
different phases OF the subject. such as can
be covered only in a general article The
velvet bean has attracted considerable at
tentfon In the southern states during the
past few years. particularly in those sec
tons lying close 10 the gulf coast Hardly
any other forage plant has received so
general and marked attention The farm
ers are taking an unusual interest In the
more extended cultivation OF leguminous
crops and the velvet bean has up 10 date
received uniformly favorable reports by
those who have undertaken its cultivation.
Origin of Velvet Bean.
The velvet bean Is a native Of India
and was for many years cultivated in this
country solely as an ornamental garden
plant. About - years ago the drst seed OF
the velvet bean were introduced BY the
department OF agriculture at Washington.
D. c.. for that purpose The vines on good
fertile soil often attain a length OF from
- 20 - feet and for that reason served
8 good purpose I'm covering arbOrs about
the home. or furnishing dense foliage to
keep out the rays OF sunshine around YER
srraz- The leaves are. large and broad,
the flowers are purple and borne in
clusters and the pods contain from three
TO six large. rounded. brown and white
mottled seeds. The use OF the velvet bean
for forage was accidentally discovered
about eight years ago. since which time
the plant has attracted considerable atten-
ton While the plants viii grow and make
good forage for a distance as Ear north
as go miles hack from the coast. the seed
win not ripen. In those sections Of the
south lying close TO the gulf coast where
the seeds ripen. the plants are regarded
equal In value to the cowpea. but 9TH
erwfse they are not Ny own personal
investigation into the production OF the
. velvet bean IN Florida. Indicated that the
beans were cultivated principally for sale
as planting seed 20 up country farmers
end that for forage the Florida farmers
stiH planted cOwpeas. This convinced me
that the c0wpea was still the peer of all
IegaminOus plants for forage.
Planting and Fertilizing.
The seed should be planted IN burrows
four feet apart. dropping from two to
three seed two feet apart in the furrow.
IL sOwn broadcast use from one 10 one and
one-half bushels per acre. The vines form
q tangled mass on the ground. and the
leaves remain on the vines much longer
than those on cowpeas. after frost falls.
The present profitable range OF culture
Goes not extend beyond that area de-
voted 10 the production of cotton. The
seed are usually sown in May. OF at times
that are favorable TO the planting OF COW
peas The plant makes its best growth
on light. sandy soils. and in view OF the
fact that Il IL a nitrogen gatherer. the
land need not be fertiIized beyond a lib
erai application OF phosphoric acid and
potash.
Like nearly an other crops it pays best
70 plant the seed in good fertile soil and
use abundance OF fertilizer materials OF
the right kind. The yield Of hay or for
age per acre IS about the same as that
produced by our best varieties OF cow
peas. and no more. notwithstanding the
superior claims for enormous yields by
advertisers who want 10 sell the seed.