Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-05-27


no one can justly estimate or de-
scribe. 1t is certain, however, that
by one stroke of fortune nature has
offset to this section of the country
any losses which might accrue to 1t
as a result of the boil weevil inVa-
sion. She has assured us of the abil-
ity to increase the fertility OF our
land from time to time as may be
necessary and to develop our 1--we
stock industries on any scale which
our necessities may require.
With the cooperation of the vel
vet bean we can diversity our crops
to an unlimited degree and we can
make general farming infinitely more
profitable than the type we have pur-
sued in the past. That we are rapid.
ly awakening to the advantages of
the velvet bean is shown by the fact
that in 1917 there were presumably
five million acres planted to this
crop. 1t is now known that one or
more varieties can be cultivated sue
cessfully in all parts of the cotton
belt. At the present time the two
strains which predominant in public
favor are the Georgia and Alabama
varieties. They constitute probably
so per cent of the present acreage.
In this connection a brief review
of the history of the velvet bean and
something of the merits of leading
varieties may not be Inappropriate
In the first place, it is a vigorous
growing annual leguminous crop. the
vines of which under favorable cir
cumstances may attain length OF
SO feet. The leaves are trifoliate
while the flowers vary from white tc
dark purple and are from one to one
and half inches in length. They are
borne in groups of one to three III
long pendant racemes.
The beans produce two DISTINCT
types of pod. one being covered with
dense. velvety black pubescence as
in the Georgia and Florida varieties
In the other type the pubescenee con
sists of short white or grayish hairs
as in the Lyon or Chinese varieties
less cover all varieties, cause a net
tle-like irritation of the skin when
handled early in the season. This
trouble, however, disappears Soor
after maturity. The pods of differ
ent varieties run from three to six
Velvet beans do not have taproot,
but produce an abundance of rather
fleshy surface roots. They are often
20 to 80 feet in length. They are lib
orally supplied with nodules vary.
ing from one-fourth to one and half
inches in diameter. This crop is
rarely attacked by rootknot, so that
it's widespread cultivation is quite
practicable.
Velvet beans have been grown in
Il
chiefly as an ornamental. In 1890
orchardists began to grow 1t and use
it as green manure. Since 19O8
about twenty other varieties of vel
vet beans have been introduced. An
early maturing variety was discov-
ed in August, 1906, on the farm of
Mr.. Clyde Chapman of Sumner, Ga,
These seed were collected and in 1908
Mr.. Chapman supplied his neighbors
with some of them. In 1908 a Mr.,
Miller, of Broxton,. Ga, found an
early maturing variety which he
one found by Mr.. Chapman bears the
name Georgia." An early maturing
variety was found in Alabama in
1911 by Mr.. Blount and is called the
"Alabama" variety. -
makes very rank growth of vine
and requires a season of 8 or
months in which to mature. It's Gull
| tivation was therefore limited by eli
matte conditions to a very narrow
section of the southeastern states.
The Georgia velvet bean, known
as EARLY Speckled" or Hundred
Day Speckled,'' is a sport of the Flor
ida bean and will mature in 10 to
1870 days. 1t is therefore adapted
| for cultivation in a much wider sec.
ton of the country than the original
| bean.
The Alabama variety is similar to
| the Georgia varieties. II makes,
however, more vigorous growth and
natures about six weeks later. In a
general way the Ala bama variety is
adapted to the southern or central
part of Georgia, Alabama and Mis-
sissippi, while the Georgia or Hun
dred-Day Speckled is best adapted
to the middle portion of the states
in question.
There are many other varieties of
velVet&beans, such as the Osceola, a
hybrid between the Florida and the
Lyon varieties, which requires from
$50 to 100 days to mature. The Lyon
bean came from the Philippine Is
lands and requires nearly as long to
mature as the original velvet bean.
The Chinese bean is quite SINH
lar to the Lyon, although the vine is
not so vigorous. 1t ripens, however
six weeks earlier than the Lyon OF
Florida varieties. For this reason it
may be cultivated successfully much
farther north.
The Yokohama velvet bean was
obtained from Japan. 1t is the ear
Hest maturing species thus far in
| troduced, requiring but 100. days to
mature. 1t has, however, some OBJ
jectionable characteristics, such as
the formation of seed close to the
ground, which causes the grain to
! decay in a wet season. The pows
also split readily and shatter the
seed in hot, dry weather.
The White Hairless velvet bean is