File:The production of the lima bean - the need and possibility of its improvement (1911) (14769371125).jpg

Identifier: productionoflima224shaw (find matches)
Title: The production of the lima bean : the need and possibility of its improvement
Year: 1911 (1910s)
Authors: Shaw, George Wright, 1864-1932 Sherwin, M. E. (Melvin Ernest), 1881-
Subjects: Lima bean
Publisher: Berkeley, Cal. : Agricultural Experiment Station
Contributing Library: University of California, Davis Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: University of California, Davis Libraries

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ake still better plants? And lastly, will these characters becomefixed and permanent in the plant, making a constant race? To intelligently answer these questions we must look back to natureand read natures laws in what has been done with lima beans and otherclosely related species. We find variability in all species of plants.Certain species of Leguminosce, however, are notably variable, amongothers being Phaseolus and Vigna, the species name of the cowpea anda species very close to the lima bean in a natural classification. Wefind this latter species adapting itself to local soils and climate of theEast, South, and Middle West in a really surprising extent. Short 232 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA EXPERIMENT STATION. maturing varieties are grown to the north and for catch crops in allregions of its growth. Varieties with heavy production of vine or ofseed are grown for hay or grain, respectively. It has been found thatto produce a new variety or type differing considerably from the parent
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Fig. :3.—Showing the difference in average size of pods on two plants and the plantson which they grew. The plant on the right is a popper. variety, it needs only a change of soil and climate. It is found also tomaintain this general type fairly well when grown under the same con-ditions which originated it; hence we find it easily molded, and naturelargely making her own selections, but still producing marked varia- Bulletin 224) THE PRODUCTION OP THE LIMA BEAN. 233 tions. In studying the lima bean, we find that varieties have beenproduced from pole forms which are constant in having the erect bushform. We also find great changes in other characters, but without theconstancy which marks the bush character. However, as long as plantscontinue to vary, just so long is there chance of improvement. If apoint of absolute constancy could be reached in regard to one or morecharacters, all improvement in those characters would necessarily stop.In the fact of variation is all hope of improve

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