Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-04-20
TIE NATION CALLS;
 RAISE FOODSTUFFS
Velvet Beans a Valuable Crop-t Also Furnishes Much Hay
 and Grain.

and Grain.
 L. w. Osborn, Arkansas Experiment
 Station.
 With no assurance that Arkansas will have plenty of feed stuffs to last for any great length of time and oe- cause velvet beans are selling at comparatively low price, the farmers of the stase can we'll afford to use some velvet beans in the place of COW peas.
 Experiments Give Much Valuable
 Information.
 While sufficient data has not yet been accumulated to Warrent recom- mendations concerning the adaptat'on of the velvet bean to different soils and conditions found in the state, neV- ertheless it is interesting to knoW that in the experiments undertaken at the main experiment station at Fayetteville and at Monticello in CO operation with the Agricultural School and c. c. Randall, county agent, the results of these tests give much val uable information concerning the be- havior of different varieties, both i'll the northern and southern districts Of the state The varieties in both tests were planted in rows four feet apart and the plants were spaced one and one-half feet apart in the row. Tha test at Monticello was planted May 8 and the one at Fayetteville week later. A description and comparison of the time of the most important va rieties grown follow:
 Important Varieties.
 Yokohoma, an early variety, began blooming August Ii, at Fayetteville, and matured September 25, requiring 130 days to mature. The variety pro- duces large, rather fiat, kidney shaped bean, grayish white in color. The variety yielded fairly well, but should be grown in closer rows than the later maturing and heavier fo- liaged types. Wakulla, also an early variety, be- gan blooming August IA and matured October 6. The variety yielded about the same as the Yokahoma. The seeds are somewhat larger than the speck- led bean and are mottled. Osceola, medium maturing varie- ty began blooming August 20 and formed large, well filled pods at Fay etteville, by October 1, but failed to mature. The variety was one of the heaviest yielders of forage in both tests. The variety matured in good season at Monticello and produced & good yield of seed. The seeds of Os- ceola are somewhat larger than those of the speckled bean, rather fiat, and mottled. The variety is one of the most promising tested. Early speckled velvet beans, com monly called the 100 day speckled, be- gan blooming September and show ed only few immature pods by o. tober 6, at Fayetteville. The variety fully matured before frost at Monti- cello and produced a heavy yield ef seed and forage. The seeds are round ish in shape and tnettled. This vari- ety is the most common one grown in all except the more Southern sec tions of the Cotton Belt. The variety is considered medium in time of ma. turity and is probably safe during ay' l foy, Rock.
 1 The Chinese variety, considered medium late in time of maturity, be gan blooming September and pro duced only small immature pods al Fayetteville. At Monticello the pods became long and extra heavy, but did not mature. The beans are large and quite similar in appearance to those of the Yokahoma. The variety pro duced heavy yield of forage in botl tests, excelling the Osceola and Early Speckled to some extent.
 The Lyon Velvet Bean and the Late speckled variety are both late in time of maturity. The Lyon variety began blooming September 10 at Fayette vile and matured about sixty pe1 cent of it's seed at Monticello. Tn! Late Speckled produced heavy fo liage and fruited heavily at Monticel To, but failed to mature. This variet. began blooming in early October a Fayetteville.
 l Give Much Hay.
 i The yield per acre of green vines e 1 different varieties varied from abou 7,500 pounds to 18,000 pounds, an' air-dry hay from about 4,600 pound to 5000 pounds.
 Plant Only In Warm Soil. l The crop should not be planted ur til the ground is thoroughly warn The best results are usually secure by planting the velvet beans in con bination with crop such as corn o sorghum, which will support .h vines. This can be done by wideni1 the rows of corn and sorghum an planting the velvet beans through tn center. On rich land the beans. whc planted in the drill with corn, tend t