The Field and Garden Vegetables of America Part 85

The ripe seeds are pale yellowish-drab, with an olive-green line about the eye; the drab rapidly changing by age to dull yellowish-brown. They are kidney-shaped, rather straight, three-fourths of an inch long, and three-tenths of an inch thick. About fourteen hundred beans are contained in a quart, and will plant a row of two hundred feet, or a hundred and fifty hills.

It is quite productive, and an excellent early string-bean, but less valuable as a green sh.e.l.led-bean, or for cooking when ripe. On account of the tender and delicate character of the pods, the ripe seeds are often injured by damp or continued rainy weather. A popular, early garden-bean, much cultivated both in this country and in Europe.

MOHAWK.

Early Mohawk.

Stem about eighteen inches high, st.u.r.dy and branching; foliage large, deep-green, wrinkled, and blistered; flowers pale-lilac; the pods are five inches and a half long, five-eighths of an inch wide, and generally contain five seeds,--while young they are green, and nearly straight; as they approach maturity they become paler; and, when ripe, are frequently streaked and spotted with purple.

The ripe seeds are variegated with drab, dull purple, and different shades of brown; the brown and dull purple prevailing: they are kidney-shaped, and measure nearly three-fourths of an inch in length, and three-eighths of an inch in width. A quart contains about fourteen hundred and fifty seeds, and will plant a hundred and seventy-five feet of drill, or a hundred and seventy-five hills.

It is about a week later than the earliest varieties. Spring plantings will blossom in about seven weeks, produce pods for the table in eight weeks, and ripen in a hundred days, from the time of sowing. In ordinary seasons, the variety will ripen perfectly if planted the last week in June; and will yield an abundance of pods for the table, if the planting be made as late in the season as the last of July.

The Early Mohawk is quite productive, and one of the hardiest of the Dwarf varieties. It is well adapted for early planting, and is extensively grown by market-gardeners as an early string-bean. The young pods are comparatively tender, and of good quality; and, if gathered as they become of suitable size, the plants will continue to yield them in great abundance. The sh.e.l.led-beans, green or dry, are less esteemed, and considered inferior to many other varieties.

NEWINGTON WONDER.

A healthy, vigorous variety, with deep-green foliage and bright-purple flowers. The plants often produce slender, barren runners, eighteen inches or two feet in length; but they are generally of short duration, and the variety is treated as other Dwarfs.

The pods are small and straight; usually about four inches long, and nearly half an inch broad. They are pale-green at first; and afterwards change to yellowish-white, tinted or washed with bright pink. At maturity they are dusky-drab, sometimes clouded or shaded with purple, and contain six or seven beans.

The ripe seeds are pale brownish-drab, with a yellowish-brown line about the eye; oblong, flattened, shortened at the ends, nearly half an inch long, and a fourth of an inch deep: about thirty-six hundred are contained in a quart. As the seeds are comparatively small, and the plants of spreading habit, this amount of seeds will plant a row four hundred feet in length, or four hundred hills.

The variety is not early, and, when cultivated for its seeds, should have the benefit of the whole season; though, with favorable autumnal weather, the crop will ripen if planted the middle of June. Spring plantings will blossom in eight weeks, produce young pods in nine weeks, and ripen in a hundred and six days.

The Newington Wonder is remarkably prolific; and, in its manner of growth and general character, resembles the Tampico or Turtle-soup. As a string-bean, it is one of the best. The pods, though not large, are crisp, succulent, and tender, and produced in great abundance throughout most of the season. The seeds, in their green state, are small, and of little value for the table: when ripe, they afford an excellent subst.i.tute for the Tampico or Turtle-soup; the difference, aside from the color, being scarcely perceptible.

The Newington Wonder of English and French authors appears to be, in some respects, distinct from the American variety. It is described as very dwarf, about a foot high, early and productive; pods dark-green, moderately long, not broad, thick and fleshy; seeds quite small, light chestnut-colored.

PEA-BEAN.

Plant vigorous, much branched, and, like the Blue Pod and White Marrow, inclined to send up running shoots; foliage comparatively small, deep-green; flowers white; the pods are about four inches long, half an inch wide, nearly straight, green when young, paler as they approach the season of ripening, yellowish when fully ripe, and contain five beans.

It is comparatively a late variety. When planted in spring, it will blossom in fifty days, afford green pods in fifty-eight days, and ripen in about fifteen weeks. In favorable autumns, it will ripen if planted as late as the 20th of June; but it is not so early as the Blue Pod or White Marrow, and, when practicable, should have the advantage of the entire season.

The ripe seeds of the pure variety are quite small, roundish-ovoid, five-sixteenths of an inch long, a fourth of an inch in width and thickness, and of a pure yet not glossy white color: about forty-four hundred seeds are contained in a quart.

As a garden variety, it is of little value, though the young pods are crisp and tender. It is cultivated almost exclusively as a field-bean.

If planted in rows or drills two feet apart, three pecks of seeds will be required for an acre; or eighteen quarts will seed this quant.i.ty of land, if the rows are two feet and a half apart. When planted in hills, eight seeds are allowed to a hill; and, if the hills are made three feet apart, eight quarts will plant an acre. The yield varies from fourteen to twenty bushels, according to soil, season, and cultivation.

The Pea-bean, the White Marrow, and the Blue Pod are the princ.i.p.al if not the only kinds of much commercial importance; the names of other varieties being rarely, if ever, mentioned in the regular reports of the current prices of the markets. If equally well ripened, and, in their respective varieties, equally pure, the Pea-bean and the White Marrow command about the same prices; the former, however, being more abundant in the market than the latter. By many, and perhaps by a majority, the Pea-bean is esteemed the best of all baking varieties.

POTTAWOTTOMIE.

The plants of this variety are remarkable for their strong, vigorous habit, and large, luxuriant foliage. The flowers are flesh-white; the pods are six inches long, green at first, then mottled and streaked with lively rose-red on a cream-white ground (the markings changing to purple at maturity), and contain five (rarely six) seeds.

The variety is comparatively late. If sown early in the season, the plants will flower in seven weeks, afford pods for sh.e.l.ling in eleven weeks, and ripen in a hundred days, from the time of planting.

The ripe seeds are of a light creamy-pink color, streaked and spotted with a red or reddish-brown: the soft, flesh-like color, however, soon becomes duller and darker, and at last gives place to a dull, cinnamon-brown. They are kidney-shaped, fully three-fourths of an inch long, and about three-eighths of an inch broad. About a thousand will measure a quart, and will plant a row two hundred feet in length, or a hundred and twenty-five hills. On account of the large size and spreading habit of the plants, five seeds will be sufficient for a hill; and, in the rows, they should be dropped five or six inches from each other.

The young pods are inferior to most varieties in crispness, and tenderness of texture; and are comparatively but little used. The seeds are remarkably large, separate easily from the pods, and, green or ripe, are remarkably farinaceous and well flavored, nearly or quite equalling the Dwarf and Running Horticultural.

RED FLAGEOLET.

Scarlet Flageolet.

A half-dwarf, French Bean, two to three feet high; flowers pale-purple; the pods are six inches and a half long, somewhat curved, green while young, pale-yellow at maturity, and contain five or six seeds.

It is one of the latest of the Dwarf varieties. If sown early, the plants will blossom in seven weeks, and pods may be gathered for use in about nine weeks; in thirteen weeks the pods will be sufficiently advanced for sh.e.l.ling, and the crop will be ready for harvesting in a hundred and ten days. It requires the whole season for its full perfection; but, for its young pods or for green beans, plantings may be made to the last week in June.

The ripe beans are blood-red when first harvested, but gradually change by age to deep-purple: they are kidney-shaped, nearly straight, slightly flattened, three-fourths of an inch long, three-eighths of an inch broad, and nearly the same in thickness. Fifteen hundred seeds are contained in a quart.

The Red Flageolet yields abundantly; and the young pods are not only of good size, but remarkably crisp and tender. If plucked as they become fit for use, the plants continue to produce fresh pods for many weeks.

The green beans are farinaceous, and excellent for table use; but are seldom cooked in their ripened state.

RED-SPECKLED.

Plant branching, and of strong growth,--nearly a foot and a half high; foliage remarkably large; flowers pale-purple; pods five inches and a half long, nearly straight, green while young, paler with occasional marks and spots of purple when more advanced, yellowish-white when ripe, and containing five (rarely six) seeds.

Season intermediate. Plants from seeds sown after settled warm weather will blossom in six weeks, and green pods may be plucked for use in fifty days. For sh.e.l.ling in their green state, pods may be gathered in ten weeks, and the crop will ripen off in ninety days. For its young pods, or for green beans, plantings may be made to the last week in June; but the crop will not mature, unless the weather continues favorable till the 1st of October.

The ripe seeds are variegated with deep-red and pale-drab, the red predominating; kidney-shaped, nearly straight, three-fourths of an inch long, and three-tenths of an inch deep. A quart contains fourteen hundred and fifty seeds, and will plant a row of two hundred and twenty-five feet, or a hundred and fifty hills.

The variety is hardy and productive. It is extensively cultivated as a garden-bean in England and France, and has been common to the gardens of this country for nearly two centuries. The young pods are of medium quality; but the seeds, green or dry, are mealy and well flavored. On account of the parchment-like character of the pods, the seeds seldom suffer from the effects of wet weather.

REFUGEE.

Thousand to One.

Plant sixteen to eighteen inches high, and readily distinguished from most varieties by its small, smooth, deep-green, and elongated leaves; flowers purple; pods five inches long, nearly cylindrical, pale-green while young, greenish-white streaked with purple when sufficiently advanced for sh.e.l.ling, yellow when ripe, and usually yielding five beans.

The Refugee is not an early sort. The plants blossom in seven weeks, produce young pods in eight weeks, and ripen in eighty-seven days, from the time of sowing. Plantings for the ripened product may be made till the middle of June; and for the green pods, to the middle of July.

The ripe seeds are light-drab, with numerous spots and broad patches of bright-purple, nearly straight, cylindrical at the middle, tapering to the ends (which are generally rounded), five-eighths of an inch long, and three-tenths of an inch thick. Eighteen hundred and fifty are contained in a quart, and will plant a row two hundred and fifty feet in length, or two hundred hills.

The variety is hardy, yields abundantly, and the young pods are thick, fleshy, and tender in texture. As a string-bean, or for pickling, it is considered one of the best of all varieties, and is recommended for general cultivation. The seeds are comparatively small, and are rarely used either in a green or ripened state.

RICE. _Vil._

Half-dwarf, about two feet high; flowers white; pods very small, scarcely more than three inches in length, and only two-fifths of an inch in width, usually containing six seeds.