UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE 
 
 AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 
 
 THE MAT BEAN 
 PHASEOLUS ACONITIFOLIUS 
 
 P. B. KENNEDY and B. A. MADSON 
 
 BULLETIN 396 
 
 November, 1925 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRINTING OFFICE 
 
 BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 
 
 1925 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of California, Davis Libraries 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/matbeanphaseolus396kenn 
 
THE MAT BEAN* 
 
 (Phaseolus aconitifolius) 
 
 P. B. KENNEDY and B. A. MADSONt 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 Several years ago our attention was called to the need of a summer 
 legume which would combine several qualities not found in any one 
 of the legumes in general use at that time. In some vineyards and 
 orchards, there was need for a leguminous green manure crop which, 
 by protecting the soil from the hot sun, would prevent the burning 
 out of organic matter and yet leave the irrigation furrows visible and 
 accessible. On unirrigated grain lands, moreover, there was a need 
 for a drought tolerant legume, which would provide pasture and 
 improve the soil, and which could be rotated with grain. 
 
 The mat bean, a plant growing in the rod-row trial garden of the 
 Division of Agronomy at the branch experiment station at Kearney 
 Park, seemed to fill both of these needs. Its creeping habit and low 
 growth made it promising as a cover and green manure crop which 
 would not interfere with the irrigation and harvesting of the fruit 
 crops. It seemed promising as a pasture crop because of its drought 
 tolerance and the fact, determined during the investigations, that 
 livestock graze on its foliage and pods with avidity. 
 
 In India, the green pods are eaten as a vegetable and the tiny 
 beans, about the size of rice grains, are also used to a considerable 
 extent for human food. These beans, being small and high in protein, 
 are especially suitable for poultry. 
 
 HISTORY AND ORIGIN 
 
 The mat bean is to be found in its wild state in India from Ceylon 
 to the Himalayas, a distance of some 1500 miles, ascending the hills 
 to an elevation of 4000 feet, especially in the northwest. De Candolle 1 
 
 * The writers desire to express their appreciation to Messrs. J. A. Denny, 
 V. H. Maghetti, and L. Beaty, foremen of the branch field experiment stations at 
 Kearney Park, Davis, and Meloland respectively, for their interest in conducting 
 the field trials with the mat bean. We are also indebted to Mr. Harold Goss, 
 junior chemist in the Agricultural Experiment Station, for some of the analyses. 
 
 t Div. of Agronomy. 
 
4 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA — EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 states that the absence of a Sanskrit name for it and the different 
 names applied to it in modern Indian languages indicate that it has 
 been brought into cultivation in comparatively recent times. In the 
 Bombay Presidency it is known as mat or matki. The Sikhs call it 
 moth, pronounced more like mote, and the Hindustani name is mout. 
 Ghosh uses the name bringhi. Other Indian names are math, ban- 
 munga, kheri, bir mung, mattikalai, tulka, kuncuma-pesalu. As there 
 are more than one hundred dialects in India and the plant is cul- 
 tivated over an extensive area no doubt the vernacular names are 
 very numerous. German works (Harz 6 ) call it "Die eisenhutblatterige 
 Bohne, " meaning the bean with leaves like those of aconite. The 
 name ' ' moth, ' ' one of the Indian synonyms, has nothing to do with the 
 English word, moth, either in meaning or pronunciation. The "th" 
 represents a sound unknown to English. We have adopted the name 
 ' ' Mat, ' ' used in the Bombay Presidency, because of its appropriateness 
 in the English language to represent the habit of the plant of forming 
 a mat on the ground. 
 
 That the mat bean is a well established commercial crop in India 
 may be gathered from a few instances where the acreage grown has 
 been recorded. Mollison 11 gives the acreage as 300,000 for Bombay; 
 Duthie and Fuller 4 give 211,000 for the North-Western Provinces and 
 Ouhd. In the United Provinces, together with urd, mung and cow- 
 peas it occupied 1,062,783 acres in the season of 1904-05. Mollison 11 
 states that this legume is fourth in importance in India and that it is 
 grown to a considerable extent in all the districts except the Konkan. 
 
 The classification of agricultural crops in the Agricultural Statis- 
 tics of India is too general to supply exact data in regard to the acre- 
 age growing any particular bean, but it is evident, that several 
 million acres are annually devoted to the mat bean alone and in mix- 
 tures with other crops, especially millets and sorghums. 
 
 Piper and Morse 12 mention that eight lots of mat bean seed were 
 obtained from India by the United States Department of Agriculture. 
 The first introduction appears to be Seed and Plant Introduction No. 
 8539 received on April 1, 1902, from Poona, India, accompanied 
 by the following note from the Department Agricultural Explorer, 
 Dr. S. A. Knapp : "Math." This legume is grown in the Deccan and 
 the Gujarat as a 'Kharif, ' or rain crop, sown only in the rainy season. 
 It does well on light, stony, upland soil with an average rainfall of 
 30 inches." 
 
 The origin of our mat bean as grown in California is Seed and 
 Plant Introduction No. 21600, grown at the Agricultural Station at 
 Dhulia, and sent from Poona, Bombay, India, by Mr. P. Fletcher, 
 
Bull. 396] 
 
 THE MAT BEAN 
 
 Deputy Director of Agriculture. It was received at Washington, 
 D. C, on November 26, 1907. This introduction represents mainly 
 a yellow seeded variety but a considerable number of seeds of a 
 black mottled variety may be observed on careful examination. 
 
 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT 
 
 The mat bean is an annual, summer legume creeping and trailing 
 over the ground from branches arising from a central stem (see fig. 1). 
 The main stem is erect and short (about 6 to 8 inches in height) 
 
 Fig. 1. — Three mat bean plants "matted" together covering an area of about 
 twenty square feet of ground. University Farm, Davis. 
 
 from which are produced horizontal branches (see fig. 2) that radiate 
 to a distance of from two to five feet, according to conditions. All 
 parts of the plant are sparsely covered with hairs which are at first 
 white but soon turn a rusty brown. The hairs on the pods are very 
 short and stiff. 
 
 By its leaves the mat bean can be distinguished from all other 
 cultivated beans. They consist of three leaflets (see fig. 3), each 
 divided into from three to five pointed lobes. They resemble the 
 leaves of the aconite plant and hence the name aconite-leaved kidney 
 bean, sometimes applied to the mat bean. 
 
b UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA — EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 The leaf stalks (petioles) are at first longer than the flower stalks 
 (peduncles) but as the season advances the reverse is generally true. 
 Usually there is only one flower stalk arising from the axil of each 
 leaf but this stalk may occasionally develop two or three branches. 
 The length of the flower stalk varies from 1% to 3 inches and is 
 terminated by from 1 to 6 small (%-in,) bright yellow flowers. From 
 these may develop from 1 to 6 pods (usually three). 
 
 The pods (see fig. 3) are of a rusty brown color when mature, 
 from 1 to 2 inches long and about y 10 of an inch wide. The number 
 of seeds to a pod is from 4 to 9, the most frequent number being six. 
 Our plants of No. 21600 produce tan-colored seeds (see fig 3) mixed 
 
 
 Fig. 2. — A trailing branch of a mature mat bean plant. Kearney Park, Agronomy 
 Field Station. November 7, 1922. 
 
 with many black-mottled seeds of a different variety. They are small 
 and cylindrical, probably the smallest of the kidney beans, as they 
 are only about % °f an i ncn l ori g an d less than % of an inch wide. 
 The scar or hilum is white, less than % G of an inch long, and usually 
 centrally or laterally placed. The seed weighs 65 pounds to the 
 bushel. 
 
 The black mottled variety, according to Ghosh, has slightly larger 
 seeds and gives a heavier yield of forage than the yellow seeded 
 variety. This indicates that it would probably be advantageous to 
 establish the black mottled variety. In India the yellow and mottled 
 strains are not usually separated commercially. We have separated 
 the two types of seed found in No. 21600 and are growing them 
 separately this season. As the flowers are normally self fertile it 
 should not be a difficult matter to establish any particular strain 
 desired. 
 
Bull. 396 
 
 THE MAT BEAN 
 
 -rjC 
 
 Fig. 3. — A single leaf with its three lobed leaflets. Seed pods and seeds. 
 
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION 
 
 Phaseolus aconitifolius. Plant annual, main stem suffrutescent, short (about 
 one foot), erect, with primary, secondary and tertiary horizontal trailing branches. 
 Primary branches (fig. 2) about twelve, 2-5 feet long, secondary about twenty- 
 five, 2 feet long, and about twelve tertiary ones about 1 foot in length. All parts 
 of the plant covered with whitish hairs which turn a rusty brown with age. 
 Stem and branches angular and flexuose. Internodes of main stem short (0.5-1.0 
 inches) with those of the branches longer (1-3 inches) . Leaves alternate, 3-f oliolate, 
 about 2.5 inches long, the central terminal leaflet slightly larger than the 
 two lateral ones. Terminal leaflet usually divided into 5 acuminate lobes, 
 lateral leaflets 4 lobed. Petioles canaliculate, 2-4 inches long. Stipules peltate 
 with oblong-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate lobes, 0.5 inch long ' and 0.1 inch 
 wide. Stipels at base of leaflets, subulate, about .2 inch long. Inflorescence 
 arising from the axil of each leaf at an angle of about 60 degrees with the stem 
 in the form of a long-peduncled capitate raceme of several small yellow flowers. 
 Peduncles, longer or shorter than the petioles depending on the stage of growth 
 of the plant: only one peduncle from each leaf axil, but occasionally appearing 
 as three by the branching of the main peduncle. Length of peduncles 2-4 
 inches. Flower bracts and bracteoles small, subulate, caducous: Eachis very 
 short (.3-7 inch long), glandular, pedicels about .1 inch long. Flowers yellow 
 (.3 inch long and .2 inch broad), calyx-tube, .1 inch long, calyx-teeth 5, the two 
 upper short and broad, the three lower narrower and acuminate; vexillum 
 (standard), pale yellow reniform, broadly emarginate at the apex, minutely 
 pubescent, ventricosely downward pointed forming a hood ; wings bright yellow, 
 left one spirally coiled around the keel, right one slightly twisted enclosing the 
 keel; Iceel twisted; style, twisted, stigma flat, bearded on the lower side, ovary 
 minutely hirsutulous. Stamens 10, nine forming a sheath and one free. Mature 
 legume (pod), (fig. 3) small, 1-2 inches long and .2 inch wide and .1 inch thick, 
 with short curved beak and covered with short stiff bristles, buff to yellowish 
 brown, 4-9 seeded. Seeds (fig. 3) small, .2 inch long and .1 wide, cylindrical, 
 somewhat reniform, rounded or truncate at the ends. Color of seeds in ours 
 (No. 21600) a light tan with a pinkish tinge. In other strains the seed may vary 
 from dull yellow to brown or black mottled. Hilum linear white, less than .1 
 inch long. 
 
 RELATED SPECIES 
 
 Five additional oriental beans 12 that might be considered as similar in their 
 climatic and soil requirements are, the adsuki bean (Phaseolus angularis), the 
 rice bean (Phaseolus calcaratus), the mung bean (Phaseolus aureus), the urd 
 (Phaseolus mungo), and the meth bean (Phaseolus ricciardianus) . All of these 
 except the last mentioned, the meth bean, have been grown for a number of years 
 in our experimental gardens. We have been unable to find any record of the 
 meth bean having been introduced into the United States, although it is said to 
 be grown extensively in high alluvial lands adjoining rivers and in the partially 
 shaded lands of orchards in some parts of India. It is generally sown in mix- 
 tures with sorghum or maize at the time of hoeing these crops. The chief use 
 made of it is as green fodder. When the seeds are used for human consumption 
 they are reported to be very heating and to cause indigestion. When sown alone 
 its habit of growth is very similar to that of the mat bean, having a short 
 erect main stem, from which arise laterally, extensively creeping vines. When 
 stakes or an erect crop like maize or sorghum is provided the vines reach a 
 considerable height by twining. 
 
 The adsuki bean is the favorite bean in Japan and commands a higher price 
 than any other bean. Generally speaking it is to be compared with the bush 
 varieties of our common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), both as to climatic require- 
 ments and uses. According to Piper and Morse 12 the adsuki bean has a wide 
 range of usefulness, being exceedingly popular as food among the Japanese and 
 Koreans. They are used as bean meal in soups and gruels and for cakes and 
 
Bull. 396] THE MAT BEAN 9 
 
 confections in a manner similar to pop-corn, as a coffee substitute ; and the 
 flour for shampoos and facial cream. In texture the meal is superior to that 
 of any other bean and the flavor is very delicate. The green pods have a tendency 
 to become fibrous and are not desirable as snap-beans. There are numerous 
 varieties, differing mainly in the time they take to mature and the color of 
 the seeds. From the results of the experiments with adsuki beans in the rod 
 row trials we were not encouraged to make larger plantings as a number of 
 other summer legumes make better crops for green manure or forage. However 
 they made an excellent stand and a heavy growth, 24 to 26 inches in height, 
 and as they are good seed producers it is quite likely that they may become 
 important beans for human consumption. 
 
 The rice bean is cultivated to a limited extent in Japan, China, India and 
 the Philippines. 
 
 It is an annual plant, half twining in habit, growing about two feet high 
 with spreading vines from 3 to 6 feet long and bright yellow flowers. With us 
 it has proven very late and a poor seed yielder. The pods split and shatter the 
 seed as soon as ripe. We have not found it sufficiently promising to extend the 
 trials beyond the rod rows. 
 
 The mung bean 8 is one of well-known oriental beans which has been cultivated 
 in India from very early times, the seeds being used for human food and the 
 straw as forage for cattle. It is not uncommon to find mung beans in the United 
 States in Chinese restaurants. The favorite method of utilizing them is by 
 sprouting the seeds in the same manner as we do oats for poultry. These sprouts 
 resemble vermicelli and are cooked in various ways. 
 
 The plant resembles our common bush types of garden or field beans but gen- 
 erally with smaller leaves. It grows erect with many branches and may reach a 
 height of four feet. We have had no difficulty in growing it as a summer legume 
 but it enters into direct competition both as a forage and as a green manure 
 with the cowpea. It has an advantage over the cowpea in that, the seeds being 
 much smaller, the rate of seeding is much less, about four pounds per acre. Their 
 small size, much smaller than garden peas, make them more desirable for pigeons 
 or poultry. 
 
 We have grown a number of different strains and find a great variation in 
 the time of maturity, those which we designate as Hasting 's mung and Kearney 
 mung being our most promising strains. 
 
 The urd is similar to the mung and is used quite extensively in India. The 
 growth is shorter than the mung and the yield of herbage much less. We have 
 not experimented with it outside of the rod row trial garden as it did not give 
 promise for forage, cover crop or seed over other legumes. 
 
 ADAPTATION 
 
 Climatic Requirements. — The mat bean is a tropical plant and does 
 best in regions having- a high uniform temperature during the grow- 
 ing season. During the seasons 1923 and 1924 it has grown very 
 satisfactorily at the three experiment stations; i.e., Meloland, Imperial 
 Valley; Kearney Park, Fresno (see fig. 6) ; University Farm, Davis. 
 At Davis, however, the growth has been slower than at the other two 
 stations and the plants require the full growing season to reach matur- 
 ity. This apparently was due to the lower temperature which pre- 
 vails at Davis. These results would indicate that the crop is well 
 adapted to the warmer sections of the interior valleys, and perhaps 
 to the whole of southern California, but that it would not do so well 
 in the coastal valleys, nor in sections where the growing season is short, 
 
10 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 or the temperature lower. In fact, it appears to be adapted to the 
 same general climatic conditions as the cowpea, preferring if anything, 
 a little more heat. 
 
 In the Imperial Valley it has not set seed as prolifically as at 
 Kearney Park, or Davis, which may be due to the excessively high 
 temperature at the former station during the blooming period. We 
 know that fruiting of our common species of Phaseolus is affected 
 adversely by high temperature, and it is possible that the mat bean 
 is similarly affected, only to a less degree. At any rate, it has pro- 
 duced seed abundantly at both Kearney Park and at Davis, 
 
 The mat bean is reported to be quite tolerant of drought, but 
 unfortunately our knowledge on this point is still rather limited. 
 Based on observations made in northern Texas, Piper 13 states: "So 
 far as can be ascertained in limited experience with it, it is somewhat 
 more drought-resistant than the cowpea," Our experience to date 
 would indicate that the mat bean is as drought tolerant as the cowpea. 
 
 At the Kearney Park station in 1923, when grown on loam soil, 
 the growth and yield on the unirrigated plot was just as good as on 
 the plots which received two irrigations during the growing season. 
 At the same station in 1924, the mat bean with a number of other 
 legumes, was planted on poor sandy soil, of such low water holding 
 capacity, that satisfactory growth with any crop can be obtained only 
 when frequent irrigation is provided during the growing season. The 
 tract was irrigated some time before planting, but when the crop was 
 put in, the seed bed was so dry that a poor stand was obtained. The 
 mat beans which did appear, however, made a fair growth and at the 
 time they were plowed under in September were in a normal, healthy, 
 thrifty condition, while the other legumes, including the cowpea, 
 were either dead or badly stunted by drought. Our experience at 
 Davis, in 1924, was similar. Owing to the absence of spring rain, the 
 seed bed dried out to such an extent that it was necessary to plant 
 extremely deep, resulting in many of the plants dying before reaching 
 the surface. The plants which came through, however, and estab- 
 lished themselves did not seem to be hampered in their growth because 
 of drought. On unirrigated land, getting the crop started appears 
 to be the most difficult problem. The seeds are small and cannot be 
 planted very deep, and in the absence of spring rains it is difficult to 
 hold the moisture near enough to the surface to germinate the seed 
 and get a good stand. 
 
 Soil Requirements. — According to Ghosh, 5 in India, "the plant 
 thrives on all upland soils, either light sandy loams or heavy clay 
 loams, without any application of manures. ' ' In this state it has made a 
 
BULL. 396] THE MAT BEAN 11 
 
 good growth on the ' ' hard land ' ' at the Imperial Valley station, on the 
 silt loam at Davis, and on the heavy loam soils at Kearney Park (see 
 fig. 6). Near the last station, a fair growth has been obtained on very 
 poor sandy soil even under adverse conditions. It is safe to say 
 that it can be grown on any good agricultural soil, provided the seed 
 bed is well prepared and the climate favorable. 
 
 CULTURE 
 
 The methods of preparing the land, and the cultivation required in 
 the production of the mat bean, will obviously vary with the locality, 
 seasonal conditions, the character of the soil, and whether it is grown 
 on dry land or with irrigation. The purpose for which the crop is 
 grown will also influence to some extent the cultural methods em- 
 ployed. In common with other bean crops, the mat bean will respond 
 to good treatment. Good physical condition of the soil and a well- 
 prepared seed bed are more important than high fertility. 
 
 Preparation of the Seed Bed. — Since the seed of the mat bean 
 is small and cannot be planted very deep, a good seed bed is par- 
 ticularly important in order to get prompt germination and a good 
 stand. The most desirable seed bed is one in which the soil to a depth 
 of several inches is firm, but friable, and moist, with a shallow rather 
 well pulverized mulch on the surface. To secure such a seed bed, 
 the best procedure is to plow the land rather deep in the fall or early 
 winter, and leave it exposed in the rough to the winter rains. Then 
 in the spring it should be cultivated sufficiently with surface tillage 
 implements to keep down the weeds and maintain the mulch. Spring 
 plowing is never as desirable as winter plowing and is particularly to 
 be avoided when the crop is to be grown without irrigation. Land 
 which is plowed after most of the winter rains are over, usually 
 remains loose and open, dries out rapidly or becomes so rough and 
 lumpy that a good seed bed cannot be prepared. These difficulties are 
 ordinarily more pronounced if the soil is heavy than on the light sand 
 or sandy loam soils, which are more friable and easier to work. There 
 will be, of course, many situations when spring plowing is absolutely 
 necessary, but it should always be as shallow as conditions will permit, 
 and the plow should be followed immediately with surface tillage 
 implements to repack the soil and fine the surface. 
 
 When the mat bean is to follow a winter annual, late spring plant- 
 ing must ordinarily be resorted to, and in most cases also it is neces- 
 sary to irrigate before plowing, in order to put the soil in condition to 
 work properly. Even though the land is worked down as soon as 
 
12 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 plowed, it frequently happens that the soil will dry out to the full 
 depth of plowing. In such cases it may be necessary to give the 
 land a second light irrigation, and then rework the seed bed and plant 
 the crop as soon as possible. 
 
 Time of Seeding. — The mat bean is a warm weather plant and 
 should not be planted until the soil and atmosphere are quite warm. 
 The seed is quite soft and if planted in a soil that is cold and uncon- 
 genial it rots easily. Furthermore, the plants which develop under 
 such conditions are stunted in their growth and never attain the vigor 
 of those which have germinated under more favorable circumstances 
 and maintained a rapid growth from the start. 
 
 Germination tests at different temperatures, carried on by Mr. 
 Harold T. Pence, a senior student in the College of Agriculture, 
 showed under laboratory conditions, that the mat bean seed germinates 
 quite readily at temperatures as low as 20° C. (68°F.) but that the 
 rate of germination and the rate of elongation of the germ was much 
 slower than at the more favorable temperature of 27° C. (80.6°F.). 
 At the lower temperature, the sprouts were only a few millimeters in 
 length or just breaking through the seed coat at the end of forty 
 hours ; while at the higher temperature they had attained an average 
 length of 25 millimeters in the same period of time. When the rate 
 of germination is reduced by low temperatures, more time is required 
 for the shoots to reach the surface of the ground and most of the 
 reserve food material in the seed will be used up before the seedlings 
 become established. To secure some information, based on actual 
 practice, on the optimum time of planting, a date-of -planting test 
 was conducted at Kearney Park Station in 1923. In this test, plant- 
 ings were made at intervals of approximately two weeks from April 
 23rd to July 6th. The results of this test are given in table 1. 
 
 TABLE 1 
 
 Date of Planting Test, Kearney Park, 1923 
 
 Date planted 
 
 Estimated stand 
 
 Yield of green matter 
 per acre 
 
 Yield of seed per acre 
 
 April 23 
 
 Per cent 
 
 45 
 25 
 25 
 35 
 50 
 90 
 
 Tons 
 
 26.62 
 20.37 
 13.73 
 9.19 
 12.22 
 13.19 
 
 Pounds 
 
 1647 
 
 May 3 
 
 1647 
 
 May 15 
 
 1173 
 
 June 2 
 
 969 
 
 June 15 
 
 650 
 
 July 6 
 
 280 
 
 
 
Bull. 396] THE MAT BEAN 13 
 
 While the stand was quite variable, primarily because of varia- 
 tions in the moisture content of the seed bed, the results obtained were 
 striking. Much the higher yields of green matter were obtained from 
 the earlier plantings, the decrease in the later plantings being marked 
 though not uniform. 
 
 The variation in yield of the last four plantings may be due in 
 part to the variation in stand, but it should be noted that the May 15 
 planting, with only 25 per cent of a stand, produced a higher yield of 
 green matter per acre than did the July 6th planting with almost 
 a perfect stand. 
 
 The yield of seed was the same for the first two plantings, but 
 declined uniformly and rapidly thereafter, only about one-sixth as 
 much seed being produced by the July 6th planting, as by the plant- 
 ing made on May 3rd. Here again, it is possible that the variation in 
 stand may have influenced the results somewhat, since it has been 
 observed that when the stand is heavy and the plants crowded, the 
 tendency to produce seed is much reduced. In this test, however, the 
 differences are too great and too uniform to be accounted for on this 
 basis. Furthermore, other observations have shown, that the highest 
 yield of seed will invariably be obtained, if the crop is planted as 
 early as conditions will permit. A similar test was undertaken at the 
 University Farm, at Davis, in 1924, four plantings being made at 
 intervals of two weeks, beginning May 1st. Unfortunately the growth 
 of the various plots was seriously vitiated, by an adjoining row of 
 trees, so that no yield data was obtained. Nevertheless, some import- 
 ant observations on the effect of time of planting, on stand and growth, 
 were made. It was observed that the time required for emergence of 
 the plants was longer, and the ultimate stand poorer, on the plantings 
 made May 1st and May 15th, than on the plantings made June 1st 
 and June 15th. 
 
 Since in 1924, the spring was rather cold and backward, these 
 observations do not mean that it was unsafe to plant the crop until 
 June 1st, but rather emphasize the fact that it is difficult to get a 
 good stand unless planting is delayed until the soil has warmed up 
 thoroughly. On the other hand, the last planting, on June 15th, made 
 less growth than the earlier planting and failed to mature before the 
 advent of fall rains. 
 
 The experimental results clearly show that while it is not advisable 
 or desirable to attempt to plant until conditions are favorable, yet the 
 crop should be put in as early as conditions will permit, in order to 
 secure the maximum vegetative growth or maximum yield of seed. 
 
14 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 Obviously the best time to plant will vary with the locality and to 
 some extent with the season. In the Sacramento and San Joaquin 
 Valley, the optimum time is from the latter part of April to the 
 middle of May, while in the warm sections, such as the Imperial Val- 
 ley, plantings may be done somewhat earlier. A good guide to follow 
 is to plant ten days to two weeks after the optimum date for planting 
 such a crop as Milo maize or Egyptian corn, or a little later than one 
 would naturally plant cowpeas. 
 
 Method and Bate of Seeding. — Under normal conditions, it is 
 better to plant mat beans in rows like common beans, although they 
 may be seeded in a close drill like grain. The early growth of the 
 plants is rather slow, and on land that is weedy, the weeds may choke 
 out much of the crop before it becomes established, unless the crop 
 is planted so that some cultivation, if necessary, can be given. The 
 close drilled method should be used only on good clean land and when 
 the crop is to be used for forage or for soil improvement purposes. It 
 appears doubtful, however, if the yield would normally be any greater 
 than from properly spaced rows. Broadcasting is not recommended, 
 as the surface of the soil is usually dry at the time the crop is planted, 
 making it impossible to work the seed into the moist soil, with the 
 result that the stand will be thin and much of the seed wasted. 
 
 When seeded in rows the distances between the rows will vary 
 with the soil or the moisture supply. On poor soil, the growth of the 
 individual plants will not be so large, and the rows should be closer 
 together than on good soil, where a normal growth will be made. With 
 a small amount of moisture more space may be necessary than when 
 the moisture is abundant. 
 
 In 1923 a number of plots were planted at Kearney Park Station 
 in which the rows were spaced at distances varying from 24 inches to 
 48 inches apart. At the period of maximum growth a portion of each 
 plot was cut and weighed green, while the remainder of the plot was 
 allowed to mature its seed. 
 
 The results of this test are given in table 2 : 
 
 TABLE 2 
 
 Spacing Test with Mat Bean, Kearney Park, 1923 
 
 Distance between rows 
 
 Green matter per acre 
 
 Yield of seed per acre 
 
 Inches 
 
 Tons 
 
 Pounds 
 
 24 
 
 17.91 
 
 2077 
 
 30 
 
 20.81 
 
 2614 
 
 36 
 
 17.91 
 
 2384 
 
 42 
 
 11.85 
 
 1619 
 
 48 
 
 16.37 
 
 1557 
 
BULL. 396] THE MAT BEAN 15 
 
 The greatest tonnage of green material, as well as the highest 
 yield of seed, was obtained from the 30-inch spacing, and subsequent 
 experience would indicate that this is about the optimum distance 
 for normal conditions. Because of our lack of experience with the 
 crop at the time the test was started, the rate of seeding was too 
 light, so that the stand in the rows was too thin. It appears probable 
 that with a heavier stand in the rows, the yield of green material from 
 the wider spacing would have been better as compared with the nar- 
 row spacing. On the poor sandy soil previously mentioned, it has 
 
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 Fig. 4. — Planter equipped with shovels or crowders to open furrows through 
 
 the dry soil. 
 
 been found necessary to space the rows more than 24 to 27 inches 
 apart in order to get the plants to cover the ground completely. The 
 purpose for which the crop is grown may also influence the spacing, 
 or even the method of seeding. If the crop is to be cut for hay it 
 should be planted with rows close together or even in close drills, as 
 the growth will be more erect and easier to handle with the ordinary 
 mowing machinery. On the other hand, for pasture or cover crop 
 purposes and particularly for seed, ample space for normal develop- 
 ment of the plants should be provided. 
 
 For planting the crop a corn or bean planter (see fig. 4), equipped 
 with plates or sprockets for handling the small seed is most satisfac- 
 tory. The grain drill may also be used, by stopping up enough of the 
 holes to give proper spacing. Unless the seed bed is even and the 
 mulch shallow, it is not as satisfactory as the other implements. 
 
16 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 Owing to the small size of the seed and the fact that it is easily 
 affected by adverse temperature and moisture conditions, the mat 
 bean cannot be planted very deep. One and one-half to two inches is 
 the best depth for average conditions. If planted deeper than this 
 much of the seed is apt to rot or the tender seedlings will be unable to 
 push their way to the surface. It is, of course, necessary to plant 
 deep enough to put the seed in moist soil, but every effort should be 
 made to so prepare the seed bed, that proper moisture conditions may 
 be afforded at the depth mentioned. On unirrigated land, and in the 
 absence of late spring rains, it is often difficult to hold the moisture 
 as near the surface as desired. Frequently the soil dries out to a 
 depth of three or four inches in spite of anything that may be done 
 to prevent it. In such an emergency we have found that the best 
 procedure in planting not only the mat bean, but also other small 
 seeded crops, is to place shovels or crowders (see fig. 4) in front 
 of the planter shoe, which will push the dry soil aside, leaving a 
 shallow trench almost down to moisture. The seed which is planted 
 in the bottom of the trench, is thus placed in moist soil, yet may be 
 only a short distance below the surface. This method is similar to 
 listing, except that the furrows are smaller and shallower. The regu- 
 lar lister may also be used, in extreme cases, but it leaves the field 
 so rough and uneven, that it is not recommended, except when other 
 methods fail. 
 
 Bate of Seeding. — The amount of seed required to plant an acre 
 depends mainly upon the method of seeding, whether in rows or in 
 close drills, but is also influenced by other conditions. From limited 
 experience with the crop in the Great Plains, Piper recommends a 
 rate from 5 to 6 pounds to the acre, when planted in rows three feet 
 apart. In India, where the crop is grown extensively, the usual rate 
 of seeding is reported to be 6 to 8 pounds to the acre. In most of our 
 experiments with the crop in 1923 and 1924 a rate of 3% to 4 pounds 
 per acre has been used when planted in rows 2% to 3 feet apart. 
 It has been evident, however, that for maximum tonnage, this rate of 
 seeding is too light for any but the most favorable conditions. For 
 seed production, on the other hand, the rate used appears to be about 
 optimum. 
 
 When the crop is grown for forage or for cover crop purposes, 6 to 
 8 pounds of seed should be planted in order to secure a good stand. 
 However, if the seed bed is in good condition, 4 to 5 pounds will be 
 sufficient. When seeded in close drills, 25 to 30 pounds is required to 
 plant an acre. 
 
Bull. 396] TTIE MAT BEAN 17 
 
 The seed of the mat bean is rather small, approximately 19,000 
 seeds to a pound. Seeded at the rate of 5 pounds per acre, in rows 
 2 1 /2 feet apart, the average distance between the seed in the rows will 
 be about one inch. This seems unnecessarily close for a plant like the 
 mat bean that makes so large a growth from a single seed. It must be 
 remembered, however, that the seeds are soft and readily affected 
 by adverse conditions, while the seedlings likewise are tender and 
 easily destroyed, so that even under the most favorable conditions it 
 is probable that rarely more than half of the possible stand survives. 
 Under average or normal conditions, the proportion is probably much 
 less. 
 
 While the rate of planting is dependent mainly upon the spacing 
 and method used, the time of planting and the condition of the seed 
 are not without their influence. For early planting a heavy rate of 
 seeding should be employed, as a larger proportion of the seed and 
 seedlings will succumb to cold soil conditions. If the seed bed is in 
 poor condition, more seed will be necessary to get a satisfactory stand 
 than if the seed bed is good. 
 
 Care of the Crop. — The purpose for which the crop is grown, and 
 whether or not it is to be irrigated will determine in a measure the 
 cultural treatments necessary during the period of growth. When 
 grown as a dry land crop, little or no cultivation should be necessary, 
 provided the field is free from weeds and the seed bed in good condi- 
 tion. In case the seed bed is loose and open, it will be found advisable 
 to go over the field with a corrugated roller immediately after planting 
 in order to place the seed in more intimate contact with the soil par- 
 ticles. This will hasten germination and improve the stand. The 
 roller, however, should not be used if the soil is wet. 
 
 After the plants appear above the ground some cultivation may 
 be necessary, especially if the field is very weedy. During the early 
 stages, the growth of the mat bean is rather slow, and a heavy growth 
 of weeds will lessen the stand or retard the development of the plants. 
 Keeping the field free from weeds is particularly important if the 
 crop is grown for seed or for hay. On the other hand, if grown for 
 green manure or for pasture, as little cultivation should be given as 
 is compatible with the normal development of the plants in order to 
 reduce the cost of production to the minimum. In any event it is 
 easier and cheaper to clean and rid the field of weeds before the crop 
 is put in than to do so after it is up. 
 
 Irrigation. — Although the mat bean appears to be fully as tolerant 
 of drought as any legume thus far tested, some irrigation will be 
 usually beneficial or necessary, especially in sections where the annual 
 
18 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 precipitation is light. The time of irrigation and the amount of water 
 to apply will vary with conditions and must be determined by the 
 farmer himself. 
 
 The most critical period, as far as moisture is concerned, is from 
 the time of planting until the plants are a month or six weeks old. 
 Not that the plants require any more water at this period, but unless 
 the moisture relations are favorable, poor germination and a high 
 mortality of the seedlings are apt to result. If the seed bed is dry 
 to a considerable depth or if the moisture content of the soil is low, 
 the land should be irrigated before the seed bed is prepared. Irriga- 
 tion at this time will greatly facilitate planting, give a better stand, 
 and maintain normal development of the seedlings until they become 
 well established. Should irrigation be necessary soon after the plants 
 come up, the water should be applied carefully. Otherwise many of 
 the young plants may be scalded out or the soil may crust so badly, 
 that the growth will be severely checked. Later when the plants 
 have attained some size there is little or no danger of injury by irri- 
 gation. In fact, the dense mat of vines produced, so effectually shade 
 the ground, that they greatly retard evaporation and prevent crusting 
 of the soil. 
 
 The method of applying the water will be influenced mostly by the 
 stage of growth and the purpose for which the crop is grown. When 
 it is grown in orchards and vineyards as a green manure crop, the 
 furrow system of irrigation will be found most satisfactory, because 
 by this system the water can be applied more efficiently. When the 
 bean starts to develop, the furrows must be left open, as cultivation 
 will injure the young plants. The runners, however, will ultimately 
 cover the furrows completely, checking evaporation and rendering 
 cultivation unnecessary. While it is true that such a dense growth 
 will check the flow of water through the furrows somewhat, this effect 
 is not serious. 
 
 When the mat bean is grown for hay or seed, on the other hand, 
 the flooding method should be employed, especially during the latter 
 half of the period of growth. The open furrows would leave the field 
 so rough and uneven that serious difficulty might be experienced in 
 attempting to harvest the crop. 
 
 HANDLING AND USE 
 
 The Mat Bean as a Cover Crop in Orchards and Vineyards. — It 
 appears likely that the greatest immediate use of the mat bean will be 
 as a summer cover crop in orchards and vineyards. Until recently most 
 
Bull. 396] 
 
 THE MAT BEAN 
 
 19 
 
 orchardists and vineyardists have been averse to using a summer cover 
 crop, believing that any competition with the trees or vines could only 
 be harmful. This attitude, however, is changing. More and more 
 are growers coming to appreciate the fact that the beneficial effect of 
 a leguminous crop more than outweighs the added draft which it may 
 make upon the soil moisture or plant nutrients. 
 
 Some interesting observations on the effect of legumes in orchards 
 have been obtained during the recent dry years. In some sections 
 it was observed that orchards which were kept under clean cultivation 
 
 Fig. 5. — A rod row showing the creeping habit of mat beans. University Farm, 
 Davis, Calif., Aug. 30, 1924. 
 
 suffered severely and were badly damaged by predatory insects, 
 especially red spider, while orchards intercropped with alfalfa or 
 other legumes, showed little or no injury and were much less severely 
 attacked by insects. The reason that the intercropped orchards suf- 
 fered less may be attributed to the fact that the large roots of the 
 legumes, opened up the soil and allowed the irrigation water to pene- 
 trate to a greater depth. Many soils when kept clean cultivated be- 
 come so hard and compact below the cultivated area, that irrigation 
 water penetrates only with great difficulty, so that tree roots may 
 receive insufficient moisture in spite of the fact that water is applied 
 copiously to the surface. In addition, the cover crop protects the 
 soil from the direct rays of the sun, reduces evaporation and prevents 
 
20 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 crusting and baking-. It is also probable, although this has not been 
 verified, that nitrification is more rapid in a soil thus protected, than 
 in one exposed to the direct action of the sun and quickly dried out. 
 Again the cover crop reduces radiation from the soil, which together 
 with the high rate of transpiration from the leaves causes a lowering 
 of the temperature in the orchard, and thus protects the trees from 
 extreme heat. In addition to this effect, the use of leguminous cover 
 crops is the only practicable means of supplying the large amount of 
 nitrogenous organic matter necessary to maintain the supply of humus 
 and keep the soil in good tilth. 
 
 As a cover crop for vineyards the mat bean appears to possess 
 special merit, since it overcomes many objections usually voiced against 
 the use of the more common summer legumes, such as cowpeas and 
 soybeans. The principal objection to such legumes is that, because 
 of their tall or viny growth, they produce too much shade, interfere 
 with the development of the vines, and the maturity of the fruit, 
 and also that they greatly add to the difficulty of harvesting the grape 
 crop. The mat bean, however, because of its low dense, prostrate 
 growth and non-twining habit, does not shade and interfere with the 
 growth of the vines or the development of the fruit. It is, in fact, 
 a cover crop in the true sense of the word, forming a dense vegetative 
 cover, which seldom attains a height of more than 12 to 14 inches, 
 so that it does not interfere with the growth of the vines nor does it 
 seriously hamper the harvesting of the crop. 
 
 In addition to improving the physical and biological condition of 
 the soil, the use of a summer cover crop, such as the mat bean, may 
 exert another beneficial effect, especially upon the light sandy soil 
 on which many of the vineyards are located. On such soil the intense 
 radiation of heat may cause the vines to sunburn severely. A good 
 vegetative cover is reported in many cases to greatly reduce or even 
 entirely prevent such injury. The coloring of the grapes is also said 
 to be improved in many sections by maintaining a soil cover. 
 
 As stated previously, when grown in orchards and vineyards, it 
 will be found more economical, as well as more satisfactory generally, 
 to grow the mat bean in rows rather than broadcast or in close drills. 
 The irrigation furrows can then be run between the rows and the water 
 applied without interference. For the best results, however, the rows 
 should be close enough together, so that the runners will completely 
 cover the intervening space. Cultivation after irrigation would, of 
 course, have to cease when the runners cover the ground, but the vege- 
 tative cover will serve just as effectively in checking evaporation, 
 and preventing baking of the soil, so that cultivation is unnecessary. 
 
Bull. 396] 
 
 THE MAT BEAN 
 
 21 
 
 It has, in fact, frequently been observed, that after irrigation the 
 surface of the soil under the plants will remain moist almost indefi- 
 nitely. 
 
 The mat bean may be plowed under or worked into the soil at any 
 time that suits the convenience of the grower, but the largest amount 
 of vegetative matter will be obtained only if the crop is allowed to 
 grow until it practically reaches maturity. For most sections this will 
 usually be about the middle to the latter part of September, and will 
 be indicated by a yellowing of the lower leaves, or approaching matur- 
 ity of the seed pods. 
 
 The actual amount of material which will be available to turn under 
 will, of course, vary with conditions, but in general it may be said, 
 that in those sections to which the mat bean is adapted, the 
 yield will compare favorably with that of any of the more common 
 summer legumes. A rather extensive test was made at the Kearney 
 Park Station, in 1923, in which the mat bean was grown in compari- 
 son with some varieties of cowpeas and soybeans, both with and 
 without irrigation. All the legumes were planted in rows three 
 feet apart and otherwise treated as nearly alike as possible. The 
 results are given in table 3. 
 
 TABLE 3 
 
 Yield of Green Matter Per Acre, of Mat Bean, Cowpeas, and Soybeans, 
 
 Kearney Park, 1923 
 
 
 Yield of green matter, tons per acre 
 
 Legume 
 
 With irrigation 
 
 Without irrigation 
 
 Mat bean 
 
 17.91 
 13.55 
 
 24.3 
 
 Cream cowpea 
 
 22.3 
 
 Victor cowpea 
 
 22 3 
 
 Columbia cowpea ... 
 
 
 22.5 
 
 Otoo Tan soybean 
 
 15.49 
 
 
 Wilson Five soybean 
 
 14.7 
 
 Virginia soybean 
 
 
 15 5 
 
 
 
 
 In both cases the mat bean produced a heavier tonnage than any 
 of the other legumes. All legumes produced a higher yield on the 
 unirrigated than on the irrigated plots, which was doubtless partly 
 due to the fact that the seed bed was in better condition and a better 
 stand was obtained. The treatment of the land may also have in- 
 fluenced the growth and yield. 
 
22 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 In other tests, yields of from 10 tons to more than 26 tons have 
 been obtained, depending upon the stand, method of planting, and 
 other factors. The yield which might be obtained by the grower will 
 obviously vary with local conditions, but any good agricultural soil 
 should produce at least 15 to 20 tons, and under good conditions even 
 more. Analyses have shown that, at the stage of maximum growth, 
 about one-fifth of the green weight is dry matter, so that the turning 
 under of a 15 to 20-ton crop would add to the soil 3 to 4 tons of 
 organic matter. In addition, of course, a considerable quantity of 
 organic matter is supplied by the roots, and this is especially import- 
 ant, since it is distributed through a large volume of soil and aids 
 materially in keeping the soil open and receptive of moisture. 
 
 The addition of organic matter to the soil in the form of cover 
 crops is particularly advantageous, since it is succulent, decays quickly, 
 and if high in nitrogen, as is the mat bean, has an immediate stimulat- 
 ing effect on nitrification, rather than a depressing effect as is usually 
 the case when highly carbonaceus material is added. Analysis by Goss 
 shows that the vegetative portion of the plant (leaves and stems) con- 
 tain on an average 2.72 per cent nitrogen. In other words, a 15 and 
 20-ton crop would add respectively 163 and 217 pounds of nitrogen 
 to the soil in a form which will quickly become available to the crop. 
 
 Since the mat bean makes a very dense mat of fine, leafy vines, 
 some difficulty may be experienced in plowing it under, unless it is first 
 thoroughly chopped up. The growth should first be gone over a couple 
 of times with a sharp disc, after which it can be plowed under without 
 difficulty. Disking has the further advantage that it enables the 
 organic matter to be more thoroughly incorporated with the soil, in 
 which condition it will decay more quickly. 
 
 The Use of the Mat Bean on Fallow. — As the mat bean is tolerant 
 of drought it may find considerable use as a soil improvement crop, or 
 better still, as a combination soil improvement and forage crop on a 
 considerable acreage of land, which is now handled annually as fallow. 
 It is generally recognized that fallowing has many undesirable fea- 
 tures, and that it would be far better if some rotation crop could be 
 found which would return some revenue to the farmer and help keep 
 the soil in a productive condition. As yet, however, such crops have 
 not been available. In spite of the fact that frequent fallowing rapidly 
 reduces the organic matter content of the soil, and destroys its physical 
 condition, it has so far been the only practical means of keeping the 
 land free from weeds and diseases and maintaining productivity on 
 the vast areas of unirrigated land, a large portion of which is cropped 
 to grain. Winter cover crops have been used to a limited extent, and 
 
Bull. 396] THE MAT BEAN 23 
 
 while the yield of grain is usually higher following a good cover crop, 
 than after the fallow, the cost of producing the cover crop is rather 
 high, and, in most cases, the returns have not justified the added labor 
 and expense. As yet, summer legumes have been used in the place 
 of fallow to a limited extent only, but the results from such a practice 
 have invariably shown that grain following a crop such as beans will 
 do better than after bare fallow. 
 
 This has been the experience even for sections where the rainfall 
 is comparatively light. The exact cause of the beneficial action has 
 not yet been determined. It is probable, however, that part of the 
 benefit is due to the large deep penetrating root, which tends to open 
 up the soil and thus improve its physical condition. In addition, the 
 roots and refuse left from the legumes, which are rich in nitrogen, 
 supply a considerable quantity of material readily acted upon by the 
 nitrifying organism, thus increasing the available nitrogen in the 
 soil. The nitrogen gathering bacteria on the roots of the legumes 
 further add to this supply, to the benefit of the following cereal crop. 
 The shading of the soil by the vegetative cover must tend to reduce 
 oxidation and evaporation and thus help maintain the soil in better 
 condition for the succeeding crop. Only a few varieties of our com- 
 mon beans, however, are adapted to use on fallow, and most of these 
 are used principally for human consumption. It is very unlikely 
 therefore that these varieties will be planted on any considerable acre- 
 age of fallow, as a great increase in production would soon glut the 
 market and render the product valueless. What is needed is a crop 
 which has a wider and more general use. Of all the legumes thus far 
 tried, the mat bean comes nearest to meeting this condition, since it 
 makes an excellent forage at all stages of growth, and may be 
 used either for pasture or hay. In the type of farming where the 
 fallow is ordinarily employed, it will probably be of greatest value 
 if used as a pasture crop. Planted on fallow, the latter part of Apri] 
 or early in May, the crop would have attained its maximum growth 
 and be ready to feed off in the early fall, when the flocks and herds 
 are being returned from the ranges and at a time when feed is in great 
 demand. It would provide a valuable supplement to the dry stubble 
 pasture usually relied upon to carry the stock through the trying 
 fall period, and the grower should have little difficulty in disposing 
 of the growth at a profit. The mat bean can also be cut for hay to 
 be used as feed later in the season ; but, as far as the benefit to the 
 land is concerned and the effect on the succeeding crop, pasturing 
 will probably be the more beneficial. Used in either manner, it would 
 be a distinct and valuable addition to the agriculture of the unirri- 
 
24 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 gated region, since it would add a small profit and, at the same time, 
 increase the yields of grain bj its beneficial effect on the soil. 
 
 After the legume has been pastured off or removed as hay, a thor- 
 ough disking is all that is necessary to prepare the land for grain. 
 
 In growing mat bean on unirrigated land it is particularly import- 
 ant that the field be free from weeds and that the seed bed be well 
 prepared. The corn or bean planter fitted with the proper plates, 
 is the best implement for planting the crop, which should be drilled 
 in rows 2y 2 to 3 feet apart, using 6 to 7 pounds of seed per acre. Since 
 it cannot safely be planted in most sections until about the first of 
 May, at which time the soil may be dry to a depth of several inches, 
 a furrow opener should be placed in front of the planter shoe, so 
 that the seed will be placed in moist soil without being covered too 
 deep. Even in the absence of late spring rains, it will usually be 
 possible to get a good stand by this method. One or two cultivations 
 to keep the weeds in check, given while the plants are small, may in 
 many instances be found advantageous, but with a clean field and a 
 well prepared seed bed, even this should be unnecessary. 
 
 USE OF THE MAT BEAN FOE FOE AGE 
 
 Use as Pasture. — As a forage crop, the mat bean will probably 
 find its greatest use as a fall pasture, because it is at its best at a 
 period when feed is usually scarce and in great demand. Compared 
 with other more common legumes, such as the cowpea and the soy- 
 bean, the mat bean has several advantages as a forage crop. It is 
 very tolerant of drought, and when once established will continue 
 to grow even under very trying conditions. It also has a rather in- 
 determinate period of growth, the vines and leaves remaining green 
 even after most of the seed is ripe, until checked by cold weather. 
 Furthermore, it is very palatable and is apparently relished by all 
 'classes of livestock, while some of our other legumes, such as sweet 
 clover and cowpeas, are not readily eaten in the green state. 
 
 The amount of pasturage which a given area will provide, will, of 
 course depend upon the stand and growth which is obtained. To secure 
 some information as to the pasture value of the mat bean, a one-tenth 
 acre plot was pastured to sheep at the Davis Station in the fall of 
 1924. Six lambs weighing from 75 to 90 pounds each, were placed on 
 the plot and remained for a period of five days, From the start they 
 consumed the new feed greedily. On the fifth day a rain occurred, 
 and the lambs were removed to prevent tramping and puddling of the 
 soil. At this time they had consumed the larger part of the vegetation 
 
Bull. 396] 
 
 THE MAT BEAN 
 
 25 
 
 but sufficient feed still remained on the plot to have sustained the 
 small flock for at least two days more. This plot was planted the 
 middle of June, and the growth was not as large as would have been 
 obtained from an earlier planting, but was about what could normally 
 be expected under average conditions in the Sacramento and San 
 Joaquin Valleys. On the basis of this test, one acre would provide 
 sufficient feed to sustain six sheep for a period of about two months. 
 As emphasized in the previous section, if grown upon even a por- 
 tion of the vast areas which are fallowed annually, it will not only 
 increase the production of the land, but will provide a large amount 
 
 Fig. 6. — A carpet of mat bean plants, Kearney Park, Calif, 
 the background. September, 1923. 
 
 
 Mung beans in 
 
 of feed which can be used to advantage as pasture for livestock 
 returning from the range. In many seasons the fall is a trying period. 
 Because of a shortage of feed, stock often lose much of the weight 
 that they had made on the range during the summer. This loss could 
 be prevented in large measure by crops of this character. Further- 
 more, if a permanent and profitable type of agriculture is to be main- 
 tained upon much of our unirrigated land, a more diversified type 
 of farming must be developed, and annual legumes of high forage 
 value, such as the mat bean, will, without question, play an important 
 part in such development. 
 
 While the mat bean as a pasture crop finds its greatest use on 
 unirrigated land, it may also be used to advantage on the more diver- 
 sified irrigated farms as an emergency pasture or as a supplement to 
 alfalfa, in case the latter is inadequate to meet the needs for both 
 
26 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 hay and pasture. Since it is an annual and can be worked into almost 
 any rotation, it may be used as the need for more feed arises. It can 
 be used as a second crop to follow grain, hay, or any other winter 
 growing- annual. Used as a component part of the cropping scheme, 
 it will materially increase the annual production of high quality for- 
 age, and thus enable the farmer to maintain upon a given area more 
 livestock than would otherwise be possible. 
 
 When the mat bean is used for pasture the method of planting may 
 be varied according to local conditions, and the grower will soon learn 
 which method of planting to employ in order to get the best results 
 in his particular section. It may be pastured at any stage of growth, 
 but the largest amount of feed will be obtained if pasturing is delayed 
 until the plants have practically completed their development, which 
 normally occurs about the first to the middle of September. When 
 necessary, pasturing may be started as early as the first of August, but 
 in any case it should be as light as possible. At this time, the plants 
 are making their most rapid growth, and if grazed too heavily the 
 growth will be checked, and the total feed correspondingly reduced. 
 
 Use for Hay. — The mat bean makes excellent hay if cut while the 
 plant is still in a vigorous stage of growth, or about when the first 
 pods are ripening. It has several advantages over most other annual 
 legumes, in that the stems are fine and the leaves do not shatter off 
 readily when cured. In fact, our observations indicate that few 
 legumes retain their leaves as well in the cured state as does the mat 
 bean. In addition, the hay is relished by animals, and has a feeding 
 value practically equal to alfalfa hay. 
 
 The chief objection to the mat bean as a hay crop is that, because of 
 its prostrate habit of growth, it is rather difficult to mow. This diffi- 
 culty is more pronounced if the stand is thin and the rows wide 
 apart, as the vines then have a tendency to lie close to the ground. 
 For hay purposes, therefore, it is better to plant the rows closer 
 together or to seed in close drills, as crowding the plants forces a more 
 upright growth, and makes the hay easier to harvest. Mowing can 
 also be facilitated by fitting the mower with extension guards and a 
 special rod lifter, such as is often used in cutting clover for seed. 
 This devise lifts the vines just ahead of the sickle, so that most of 
 them at least will be cut off. After the crop has been mowed, it should 
 remain in the swath until the leaves are thoroughly wilted, and then 
 raked into windrows. It should be left in the windrows from twelve 
 to twenty-four hours, and then placed in small cocks to complete the 
 curing process. The time required to cure the hay will vary from two 
 to four days, depending on weather conditions. Because of the fine- 
 
Bull. 396] 
 
 THE MAT BEAN 
 
 27 
 
 ness of the vines, however, the mat bean cures more readily than the 
 coarser stemmed legumes, such as cowpeas or soybeans. Curing 
 should continue until the stems lose their toughness and become some- 
 what brittle, at which stage it may be safely stacked. 
 
 The yield of hay which may be obtained will obviously depend on 
 a number of different factors. The stand will always have an import- 
 ant bearing on the yield. An early planted crop will nearly always 
 make a larger growth and heavier yield than one planted late. The 
 method of planting may also influence the yield, but this in turn will 
 vary with the locality. In our experiments to date, vegetative yields 
 have all been determined on the green basis, but from this we can 
 readily calculate the approximate yield of hay which would have been 
 obtained. Analyses show that about one-fifth of the green weight is 
 dry matter, but since the hay will contain normally about 15 per 
 cent of water, the yield of hay will be about one-fourth of the green 
 weight. In our tests the yield of green material has varied from 9 
 to 26 tons per acre, which is equivalent to 2 1 / 4 to 6I/2 tons of hay or 
 slightly less, deducting for normal field losses. On an average, a yield 
 or 3 to 4 tons per acre can reasonably be expected, which compares 
 favorably with that obtained from other annual hay crops. 
 
 Composition. — Few analyses of the mat bean plant as forage are 
 available. The only analyses at hand are, one of the green fodder 
 reported by Ghosh 5 from India, and two on air-dried material from 
 crops grown at Davis in 1924, one of the latter by Harold Goss of the 
 Division of Nutrition and the other by B. A. Madson. These analyses 
 are given in table 4. For comparison, analyses of alfalfa, cowpeas, 
 and soybeans reported by Henry and Morrison are included. 
 
 TABLE 4 
 Composition of Mat Bean, Alfalfa, Cowpeas, and Soybeans — Whole Plant 
 
 Moisture 
 
 Protein 
 
 Fat 
 
 Ash 
 
 Crude fiber 
 
 Per cent 
 
 Per cent 
 
 Per cent 
 
 Per cent 
 
 Per cent 
 
 50.00 
 8.00 
 
 8.07 
 17.00 
 
 
 8.91 
 12.10 
 
 4.25 
 19.08 
 
 2.80 
 
 3.82 
 
 16.75 
 
 2.27 
 
 17.28 
 
 14.35 
 
 8.6 
 
 14.9 
 
 2.3 
 
 8.6 
 
 28.3 
 
 9.7 
 
 19.3 
 
 2.6 
 
 11.9 
 
 22.5 
 
 8.6 
 
 16.0 
 
 2.8 
 
 8.6 
 
 24.9 
 
 Nitrogen 
 free extract 
 
 IVJat bean, Ghosh... 
 
 Mat bean, Goss 
 
 Mat bean, Madson 
 
 Alfalfa hay 
 
 Cowpea hay 
 
 Soybean hay 
 
 Per cent 
 
 28.77 
 
 40.37 
 
 45.53 
 
 37.3 
 
 34.0 
 
 39.1 
 
 In order that a more direct comparison may be obtained, these 
 analyses calculated to a water-free basis are given in table 5. 
 
28 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA— EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 TABLE 5 
 Composition of Mat Bean, Alfalfa, Cowpeas, and Soybeans — Whole Plant 
 
 
 Moisture 
 
 Water-free basis 
 
 
 Protein 
 
 Fat 
 
 Ash 
 
 Crude fiber 
 
 Nitrogen- 
 free extract 
 
 Mat bean, Ghosh 
 
 Per cent 
 
 50.00 
 8.00 
 3.82 
 8.60 
 9.70 
 8.60 
 
 Per cent 
 
 16.14 
 18.47 
 17.41 
 16.30 
 21.37 
 17.50 
 
 Per cent 
 
 Per cent 
 
 17.82 
 13.15 
 17.96 
 
 9.40 
 13.17 
 
 9.40 
 
 Per cent 
 
 8.50 
 20.74 
 15.90 
 30. 96 
 24.91 
 27.24 
 
 Per cent 
 
 57.54 
 
 Mat bean, Goss 
 
 3.04 
 2.36 
 2.51 
 
 2.88 
 3.06 
 
 44.60 
 
 Mat bean, Madson 
 
 Alfalfa hay 
 
 46.37 
 40.83 
 
 Cowpea hay.... 
 
 37.67 
 
 Soybean hay 
 
 42.80 
 
 
 
 Attention is called to the fact that the composition of the mat 
 bean compares favorably with that of alfalfa and other legumes. 
 Its protein content is approximately the same or a little higher than 
 that of alfalfa and a, little less than that of cowpeas. The ash content 
 is abnormally high, but in connection with the analysis from India, it 
 was pointed out that about one-half of the ash was sand or silica; a 
 portion of which was due to sand or soil adhering to the plant, and the 
 same was doubtless true to a greater or less extent with the other 
 samples. On the basis of composition it should compare favorably 
 with other legumes as a forage. Its actual value, however, can be 
 determined only by careful feeding tests. 
 
 SEED PEODUCTION 
 
 As the mat bean is an annual, there will be a yearly demand for 
 seed. There is also the possibility that in time the seed will be in 
 demand for purposes other than those discussed. In India, for ex- 
 ample, it is used for human food, as are other beans, and is also used 
 to some extent as a feed for animals. The production of good seed is 
 important and should be a profitable undertaking in some sections. 
 It appears from past experience that the mat bean does not set seed in 
 all sections. Some years ago when the crop was first grown experi- 
 mentally in Texas, it performed very satisfactorily as a forage crop. 
 Interest in it waned, when it failed to set seed, as it was realized that 
 unless seed could be produced abundantly and cheaply it would hold 
 little value as a forage crop. In our experiments with this crop in 
 this state during the past three years, it has produced seed abundantly, 
 
Bull. 396] 
 
 THE MAT BEAN 
 
 29 
 
 both at the Kearney Park Station, near Fresno, and at the University 
 Farm at Davis. At the Imperial Valley Station, on the other hand, 
 the setting" of seed has always been very light. Experience of others 
 corroborate ours, however, that in the Sacramento and San Joaquin 
 valleys, seed can be produced both abundantly and cheaply. 
 
 In some respects the seed habits of the mat bean are excellent. Not 
 only does it produce abundantly under favorable conditions, but it 
 holds its seed well, shattering very little even after it is cured and 
 dried. The only difficulty which is apt to be experienced, is that the 
 early fall rains may cause the pods and seed to rot before the crop 
 can be harvested. This difficulty can be avoided to a large extent by 
 
 >■,.: ^ *;.;-'■* 
 
 -Trailers of mat bean plants turned back to expose the masses of pods 
 underneath hidden by the leaves. 
 
 planting early, and by harvesting as soon as most of the pods are ripe, 
 or as soon as there is danger from fall rains. Growing the crop for 
 seed does not differ materially in its cultural aspects, from growing 
 it for forage, except that it should be planted early, and the rows 
 should be wider apart and the stand thin, to allow for the full develop- 
 ment of the individual plants. It has been our experience that the 
 highest yield of seed is obtained by planting as early as local conditions 
 will permit. 
 
 Referring to table 1, it will be noted that the highest yield of seed 
 was obtained from the late April and early May plantings, and there 
 was a rapid decrease in seed productivity with later plantings. The 
 plot planted July 6 produced only one-sixth as much seed as the one 
 planted May 3. While the optimum time for planting will vary slightly 
 with the season and the locality, the best time for most sections appears 
 to be from the first to the middle of May. 
 
30 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 In order to get a good seed crop, ample space for the development 
 of the plants is important. It will be noted by referring to table 2, 
 that higher yields of seed were obtained when the crop was planted 
 in rows 30 to 36 inches apart, than when either closer or wider spacing 
 was used. For average conditions, 36-inch spacing is probably the 
 safest. We have also observed that a thick stand or a crowding of the 
 plants in the row tends to reduce seed setting. For this reason a 
 lighter rate of seeding should be employed than when the crop is grown 
 for green manure purposes or for forage. With a good seed bed con- 
 dition at the time of planting, 3 to 4 pounds per acre is ample, while 
 if the conditions are not so favorable, a slightly heavier rate may be 
 employed. 
 
 During the growing season some cultivation should be given to 
 keep down weeds and to maintain the soil in good tilth. If water is 
 available, one or two irrigations to stimulate growth, may also be found 
 advantageous. Otherwise no special care or treatment is necessary. 
 
 Harvesting. — The mat bean has a rather indeterminate period of 
 growth, and mature pods, green pods, and blossoms may be found on 
 the plant at the same time. For this reason, the grower must use his 
 judgment as to the best time to harvest. The optimum time is when 
 most of the pods are mature. It is not safe to wait until all the pods 
 are ripe, as there may be some loss from shattering, and there is always 
 the danger of having the crop caught by early rains. If a rain does 
 occur, the crop should be cut as quickly as possible, and the vines 
 turned over to expose the pods to the sun, so that they will dry out 
 as quickly as possible. If this is not done the loss from rotting will 
 be heavy. 
 
 The best implement for harvesting the seed crop is a bean cutter, 
 which shears off the plants just below the surface of the ground, 
 throwing two rows together in a single windrow. After cutting, the 
 beans may be left in the windrow until dry enough to thresh, or they 
 may be left until thoroughly wilted and placed in small cocks to 
 complete the curing process. Where threshing is to be done with a 
 stationary outfit, the latter method is to be preferred, as it facilitates 
 handling. 
 
 Threshing should be done as soon as the vines and pods are 
 thoroughly dry. The regular bean thresher is the best machine for 
 doing the work, but a grain thresher can also be used by reducing the 
 speed of the cylinder sufficiently to prevent cracking of the seed. 
 When available, the "bean pickup," with which the crop could be 
 threshed directly from the windows, could be used with advantage, as 
 it would greatly reduce the expense and labor of handling. 
 
Bull. 396] THE MAT BEAN 31 
 
 After threshing, the seed should be stored in a dry place until 
 it is to be planted or placed on the market. Should any quantity of 
 trash or foreign material be mixed with the seed in threshing, it 
 should be cleaned out as quickly as possible, as it will tend to draw 
 moisture, and may cause the seed to heat and spoil. 
 
 Yield of Seed. — The yield of seed that may be obtained will vary 
 so greatly with the conditions of growth, that it is hardly safe, as yet, 
 to predict what may be normal expectancy under average conditions. 
 In the experiments at the Kearney Park Station, the estimated yield 
 has varied from 280 pounds per acre to as high as 2614 pounds per 
 acre. Most of the tests, however, have ranged from 1100 to 1600 
 pounds per acre. 
 
 At the University Farm at Davis, in 1924, four one-tenth acre plots 
 were planted to mat bean for seed, the yields from which are given in 
 table 6. 
 
 TABLE 6 
 Mat Bean Seed Production, Davis, 1924 
 
 Yield per acre, 
 Plot No. Lbs. 
 
 D-32 630 
 
 D-34 880 
 
 D-36 650 
 
 D-38 700 
 
 Average 715±38.2 
 
 While the yields were not as high as the average from the Kearney 
 Park station in 1923, they, nevertheless, were very satisfactory, con- 
 sidering the fact that the crop was not planted until June 15th, which 
 experience has shown is too late for the best results. 
 
 Use and Composition of the Seed. — As has already been stated, 
 the principal use of the seed in this country will probably be for 
 planting purposes. While in the orient it is used in various ways as 
 human food, it is hardly likely that it will find much demand for that 
 purpose here. The excess over the amount needed for planting and 
 the inferior quality of seed will doubtless be fed to livestock. Unfor- 
 tunately, we have as yet no information on its feed value. On the 
 basis of its composition given in table 7, it appears to be good feed, 
 especially in small quantities, since it is rich in proteins and carbo- 
 hydrates. What effect it may have on animals if fed in large quanti- 
 ties is not known, and it should be used sparingly until further in- 
 formation is available. The small size of the seed would lead one to 
 believe that it might prove a valuable feed for poultry. 
 
32 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT STATION 
 
 TABLE 7 
 Composition of Mat Bean Seed 
 
 Moisture 
 
 Protein 
 
 Fat 
 
 Ash 
 
 Crude fiber 
 
 Nitrogen- 
 free extract 
 
 Average of 5 foreign 
 analyses 
 
 Analysis by H. Goss, 
 Mottled seed 
 
 Analysis by H. Pence, 
 Yellow seed 
 
 Per cent 
 
 9.62 
 10.10 
 10.96 
 
 Per cent 
 
 23.07 
 22.63 
 23.91 
 
 Per cent 
 
 .73 
 
 .82 
 1.12 
 
 Per cent 
 
 4.29 
 4.10 
 3.67 
 
 Per cent 
 
 4.02 
 5.33 
 
 Per cent 
 
 58.27 
 57.02 
 60.34(a) 
 
 (a) Crude fiber plus nitrogen-free extract. 
 
 ENEMIES OF THE MAT BEAN 
 
 So far the mat bean has not been attacked to any great extent by 
 serious diseases or insect pests. We have grown it adjacent to beans 
 and other legumes which have been badly infested with red spider and 
 thrip, but the mat bean has not been attacked or injured by these 
 insects. The only pest which has caused trouble is nematodes. For 
 the past two years, the mat bean with other legumes has been grown 
 at Kearney Park, on a piece of sandy land, badly infested with this 
 pest, and some damage has occurred each season. Some of the plants 
 became stunted and turned yellow, others were completely killed, still 
 others showed no effect, although nematodes were present on the 
 roots. In the same field susceptible varieties of cowpeas were almost 
 completely destroyed each season. It would appear, therefore, that 
 in its resistance to this pest, it is about intermediate between the ex- 
 tremely susceptible and the so-called resistant forms of legumes. 
 
 The seed is susceptible to the attacks of bean weevil, as is that of 
 other beans. Since the only method of combating this pest is to fumi- 
 gate the seed in storage, the seed should be examined occasionally, and 
 if weevils are present it should be fumigated, either with carbon 
 bisulphide or cyanide, at such times and as often as is necessary to 
 keep the weevil in check. Seed harvested in the fall will seldom 
 be badly damaged by the next planting season, as the insects do not 
 multiply rapidly during the cool weather of the winter. The greatest 
 damage usually occurs to seed held over more than one season. 
 
BULL. 396] THE MAT BEAN 33 
 
 LITERATURE 
 
 » Candolle, A. P. de 
 
 1886. Origin of cultivated plants. 345. 
 
 2 Connor, A. B. 
 
 1910. Eeport of cooperative forage crop work. Texas Agr. Exp. Sta. 
 Bui. 132:25. 
 s Cooke, T. 
 
 1903. Flora of the Presidency of Bombay. 1:378-379. 
 
 * Duthie, J. F. and Fuller, J. B. 
 
 1882. Field and garden crops of the North-Western Provinces and Ouhd. 
 pt. 1, 1-87. 22 pi. Boorkee, India, 
 s Ghosh, A. C. 
 
 1917. The fodder pulses, meth, bhringi and mashyem Kalai. Bihar and 
 Orissa Agr. Jour. Patna, India, 5*: 15-47. 14 tab. 5 pis. 
 e Harz, C. D. 
 
 1885. Landwirthschaftliche Samenkunde. 734. 
 
 7 Kennedy, P. B., and Madsen, B. A. 
 
 1923. The moth bean. The Fruitman, 3i:4. 
 
 s Kennedy, P. B. 
 
 1923. The mung bean — an improver of soils. The Fruitman 3 10 :3. 
 
 9 Kelkar, B. B. G. K. 
 
 1917. Establishment and management of the dairy farm. Dept. of Agr. 
 Bombay, Bui. 86:46. 
 
 io Leather, J. Walter 
 
 1901. Indian food grains and fodders. The Agricultural Ledger. 
 1903. Calcutta. 1901:349; 1903:147. 
 
 11 MOLLISON, J. 
 
 1901. Textbook on Indian agriculture. 3:1-283. Bombay. 
 
 12 Piper, C. V. and Morse, W. J. 
 
 1914. Five oriental species of beans. U. S. Dept. Agr. Bur. of PI. Ind. 
 Bui. 119: (Professional paper), 1-32, 7 pi. 
 is Piper, C. V. 
 
 1924. Forage plants and their culture. (Kevised edition), 611-612. 
 
 14 Sornay, P. de 
 
 1916. Green manures and manuring in the tropics. 137-138. 
 
 is Watt, George 
 
 1908. Commercial products of India. 879. 
 
STATION PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION 
 
 No. 
 253. 
 
 261. 
 
 262. 
 
 263. 
 268. 
 273. 
 
 275. 
 
 276. 
 277. 
 278. 
 279. 
 280. 
 
 283. 
 285. 
 294. 
 304. 
 
 310. 
 312. 
 313. 
 319. 
 324. 
 
 325. 
 
 328. 
 331. 
 334. 
 
 335. 
 
 339. 
 
 340. 
 
 343. 
 344. 
 
 34 6. 
 347. 
 
 348. 
 349. 
 
 350. 
 352. 
 
 353. 
 
 354. 
 357. 
 
 BULLETINS 
 No. 
 
 Irrigation and Soil Conditions in the 358. 
 
 Sierra Nevada Foothills, California. 
 
 Melaxuma of the Walnut, "Juglans 359. 
 
 regia." 361. 
 
 Citrus Diseases of Florida and Cuba 
 Compared with Those of California. 362. 
 
 Size Grades for Ripe Olives. 363. 
 
 Growing and Grafting Olive Seedlings. 
 
 Preliminary Report on Kearney Vine- 364. 
 
 yard Experimental Drain. 
 
 The Cultivation of Belladonna in Cali- 365. 
 
 fornia. 366. 
 
 The Pomegranate. 
 
 Sudan Grass 367. 
 
 Grain Sorghums. 
 
 Irrigation of Rice in California. 368. 
 
 Irrigation of Alfalfa in the Sacramento 
 Valley. 369. 
 
 The Olive Insects of California. 370. 
 
 The Milk Goat in California. 371. 
 
 Bean Culture in California. 
 
 A Study of the Effects of Freezes on 372. 
 
 Citrus in California. 
 
 Plum Pollination. 373. 
 
 Mariout Barley. 374. 
 
 Pruning Young Deciduous Fruit Trees. 
 
 Caprifigs and Caprification. 
 
 Storage of Perishable Fruit at Freezing 375. 
 
 Temperatures. 
 
 Rice Irrigation Measurements and Ex- 376. 
 
 periments in Sacramento Valley, 
 1914-1919. 377. 
 
 Prune Growing in California. 379. 
 
 Phylloxera-Resistant Stocks. 380. 
 
 Preliminary Volume Tables for Second- 
 Growth Redwood. 381. 
 
 Cocoanut Meal as a Feed for Dairy 
 Cows and Other Livestock. 382: 
 
 The Relative Cost of Making Logs from 
 Small and Large Timber. 383. 
 
 Control of the Pocket Gopher in Cali- 
 fornia. 384. 
 
 Cheese Pests and Their Control. 
 
 Cold Storage, as an Aid to the Market- 
 ing of Plums. 385. 
 
 Almond Pollination. 386. 
 
 The Control of Red Spiders in Decidu- 
 ous Orchards. 387. 
 
 Pruning Young Olive Trees. 388. 
 
 A Study of Sidedraft and Tractor 
 Hitches. 389. 
 
 Agriculture in Cut-over Redwood Lands. 390. 
 
 Further Experiments in Plum Pollina- 
 tion. 391. 
 
 Bovine Infectious Abortion. 
 
 Results of Rice Experiments in 1922. 392. 
 
 A Self-mixing Dusting Machine for 
 Applying Dry Insecticides and 
 Fungicides. 
 
 Black Measles, Water Berries, and 
 Related Vine Troubles. 
 
 Fruit Beverage Investigations. 
 
 Preliminary Yield Tables for Second 
 Growth Redwood. 
 
 Dust and the Tractor Engine. 
 
 The Pruning of Citrus Trees in Cali- 
 fornia. 
 
 Fungicidal Dusts for the Control of 
 Bunt. 
 
 Avocado Cultui'e in California. 
 
 Turkish Tobacco Culture, Curing and 
 Marketing. 
 
 Methods of Harvesting and Irrigation 
 in Relation to Mouldy Walnuts. 
 
 Bacterial Decomposition of Olives dur- 
 ing Pickling. 
 
 Comparison of Woods for Butter Boxes. 
 
 Browning of Yellow Newtown Apples. 
 
 The Relative Cost of Yarding Small 
 and Large Timber. 
 
 The Cost of Producing Market Milk and 
 Butterfat on 246 California Dairies. 
 
 Pear Pollination. 
 
 A Survey of Orchard Practices in the 
 Citrus Industry of Southern Cali- 
 fornia. 
 
 Results of Rice Experiments at Cor- 
 tena, 1923. 
 
 Sun-Drying and Dehydration of Wal- 
 nuts. 
 
 The Cold Storage of Pears. 
 
 Walnut Culture in California. 
 
 Growth of Eucalyptus in California 
 Plantations. 
 
 Growing and Handling Asparagus 
 Crowns. 
 
 Pumping for Drainage in the San 
 Joaquin Valley, California. 
 
 Monilia Blossom Blight (Brown Rot) 
 of Apricot. 
 
 A Study of the Relative Values of Cer- 
 tain Succulent Feeds and Alfalfa Meal 
 as Sourses of Vitamin A for Poultry. 
 
 Pollination of the Sweet Cherry. 
 
 Pruning Bearing Deciduous Fruit 
 Trees. 
 
 Fig Smut. 
 
 The Principles and Practice of Sun- 
 drying Fruit. 
 
 Berseem or Egyptian Clover. 
 
 Harvesting and Packing Grapes in 
 California. 
 
 Machines for Coating Seed Wheat with 
 Copper Carbonate Dust. 
 
 Fruit Juice Concentrates. 
 
 CIRCULARS 
 
 No. No. 
 
 87. Alfalfa. 154. 
 113. Correspondence Courses in Agriculture. 
 
 117. The Selection and Cost of a Small 155. 
 
 Pumping Plant. 157. 
 
 127. House Fumigation. 160. 
 
 129. The Control of Citrus Insects. 164. 
 
 136. Alelilotus indica as a Green-Manure 165. 
 
 Crop for California. 
 
 144. Oidium or Powdery Mildew of the Vine. 166. 
 
 151. Feeding and Management of Hogs. 167. 
 
 152. Some Observations on the Bulk Hand- 170. 
 
 ling of Grain in California. 
 
 Irrigation Practice in Growing Small 
 
 Fruit in California. 
 Bovine Tuberculosis. 
 Control of the Pear Scab. 
 Lettuce Growing in California. 
 Small Fruit Culture in California. 
 Fundamentals of Sugar Beet Culture 
 
 under California Conditions. 
 The County Farm Bureau. 
 Feeding Stuffs of Minor Importance. 
 Fertilizing California Soils for the 1918 
 
 Crop. 
 
CIRCULARS — {Continued) 
 
 No. 
 
 173. The Construction of the Wood-Hoop 
 Silo. 
 
 178. The Packing of Apples in California. 
 
 179. Factors of Importance in Producing 
 
 Milk of Low Bacterial Count. 
 184. A Flock of Sheep on the Farm. 
 190. Agriculture Clubs in California. 
 199. Onion Growing in California. 
 
 202. County Organizations for Rural Fire 
 
 Control. 
 
 203. Peat as a Manure Substitute. 
 
 209. The Function of the Farm Bureau. 
 
 210. Suggestions to the Settler in California. 
 212. Salvaging Rain-Damaged Prunes. 
 
 214. Seed Treatment for the Prevention of 
 
 Cereal Smuts. 
 
 215. Feeding Dairy Cows in California. 
 217. Methods for Marketing Vegetables in 
 
 California. 
 220. Unfermented Fruit Juices. 
 228. Vineyard Irrigation in Arid Climates. 
 
 230. Testing Milk, Cream, and Skim Milk 
 
 for Butterfat. 
 
 231. The Home Vineyard. 
 
 232. Harvesting and Handling California 
 
 Cherries for Eastern Shipment. 
 
 233. Artificial Incubation. 
 
 234. Winter Injury to Young Walnut Trees 
 
 during 1921-22. 
 
 235. Soil Analysis and Soil and Plant Inter- 
 
 i*elations. 
 
 236. The Common Hawks and Owls of Cali- 
 
 fornia from the Standpoint of the 
 Rancher. 
 
 237. Directions for the Tanning and Dress- 
 
 of Furs. 
 
 238. The Apricot in California. 
 
 239. Harvesting and Handling Apricots and 
 
 Plums for Eastern Shipment. 
 
 240. Harvesting and Handling Pears for 
 
 Eastern Shipment. 
 
 241. Harvesting and Handling Peaches - for 
 
 Eastern Shipment. 
 
 242. Poultry Feeding. 
 
 243. Marmalade Juice and Jelly Juice from 
 
 Citrus Fruits. 
 
 244. Central Wire Bracing for Fruit Trees. 
 
 245. Vine Pruning Systems. 
 
 247. Colonization and Rural Development. 
 
 248. Some Common Errors in Vine Pruning 
 
 and Their Remedies. 
 
 249. Replacing Missing Vines. 
 
 250. Measurement of Irrigation Water on 
 
 the Farm. 
 
 251. Recommendations Concerning the Com- 
 
 . mon Diseases and Parasites of 
 Poultry in California. 
 
 252. Supports for Vines. 
 
 253. Vineyard Plans. 
 
 254. The Use of Artificial Light to Increase 
 
 Winter Egg Production. 
 
 255. Leguminous Plants as Organic Fertil- 
 
 izer in California Agriculture. 
 
 No. 
 
 256. The Control of Wild Morning Glory. 
 
 257. The Small-Seeded Horse Bean. 
 
 258. Thinning Deciduous Fruits. 
 
 259. Pear By-products. 
 
 260. A Selected List of References Relating 
 
 to Irrigation in California. 
 
 261. Sewing Grain Sacks. 
 
 262. Cabbage Growing in California. 
 
 263. Tomato Production in California. 
 
 264. Preliminary Essentials to BovineTuber- 
 
 culosis Control. 
 
 265. Plant Disease and Pest Control. 
 
 266. Analyzing the Citrus Orchard by Means 
 
 of Simple Tree Records. 
 
 267. The Tendency of Tractors to Rise in 
 
 Front; Causes and Remedies. 
 
 268. Inexpensive Lavor-saving Poultry Ap- 
 
 pliances. 
 
 269. An Orchard Brush Burner. 
 
 270. A Farm Septic Tank. 
 
 271. Brooding Chicks Artificially. 
 
 272. California Farm Tenancy and Methods 
 
 of Leasing. 
 
 273. Saving the Gophered Citrus Tree. 
 
 274. Fusarium Wilt of Tomato and its Con- 
 
 trol by Means of Resistant Varieties. 
 
 275. Marketable California Decorative 
 
 Greens. 
 
 276. Home Canning. 
 
 277. Head, Cane, and Cordon Pruning of 
 
 Vines. 
 
 278. Olive Pickling in Mediterranean Coun- 
 
 tries. 
 
 279. The Preparation and Refining of Olive 
 
 Oil in Southern Europe. 
 
 281. The Results of a Survey to Determine 
 
 the Cost of Producing Beef in Cali- 
 fornia. 
 
 282. Prevention of Insect Attack on Stored 
 
 Grain. 
 
 283. Fertilizing Citrus Trees in California. 
 
 284. The Almond in California. 
 
 285. Sweet Potato Production in California. 
 
 286. Milk Houses for California Dairies. 
 
 287. Potato Production in California. 
 
 288. Phylloxera Resistant Vineyards. 
 
 289. Oak Fungus in Orchard Trees. 
 
 290. The Tangier Pea. 
 
 291. Blackhead and Other Causes of Loss 
 
 of Turkeys in California. 
 292 Alkali Soils. 
 
 293. The Basis of Grape Standardization. 
 
 294. Propngation of Deciduous Fruits. 
 
 295. The Growing and Handling of Head 
 
 Lettuce in California. 
 
 296. Control of the California Ground 
 
 Squirrel. 
 
 297. A Survey of Beekeeping in California; 
 
 The Honeybee as a Pollinizer. 
 
 298. Tbe Possibilities and Limitations of 
 
 Cooperative Marketing. 
 
 299. Poultry Breeding Records. 
 
 The publications listed above may be had by addressing 
 
 College of Agriculture, 
 
 University of California, 
 
 Berkeley, California. 
 
 20m-ll,'25