Description

Henckell Du Buisson & Co would like to know if Prain can tell them whether the beans, of which they enclose a sample, are what are known in America as Velvet beans. They wish to have a leguminous plant to plough in as a green dressing for a Mulberry plantation in India, in order to supply nitrogen and humus to the soil. The Velvet bean is recommended in Cuba as very suitable for this and they wrote to their friends in India accordingly. Their Indian friends sent them these beans and ask if they are the correct ones. As a postscript they note that they write at the suggestion of Messrs Ide & Christie. Page contains notes in another hand initialled 'J.H.H.' stating that the beans are probably Erythrina indica. The velvet bean is Mucuna pruriens. The note also states that the company were referred to the Director of the Botanic Gardens, Calcutta [Kolkata] for seeds suitable for cultivation. References are also provided to three works: the FARMERS' BULLETIN of the US Department of Agriculture; Circular number 12, August 1905 from the Botanic Garden Ceylon; and Green Manuring in Tea Cultivation in India, number 2, 1906. Page 1 of 1.