The Field and Garden Vegetables of America Part 87

From sixteen to eighteen inches high, of strong and branching habit.

Flowers white; pods five inches and a half long, sickle-shaped, green while young, yellowish-white at maturity, and containing six (rarely seven) seeds.

It is a half-early variety; blossoming in six weeks, yielding pods for the table in seven weeks, pods for sh.e.l.ling in eleven weeks, and ripening in ninety days, from the time of planting. Later plantings will ripen in a shorter period, or in about eighty days; and, if cultivated as a string-bean, seed sown as late in the season as the last week of July will supply the table from the middle of September with an abundance of well-flavored and tender pods.

The ripe bean is white, kidney-shaped, flattened, three-fourths of an inch long, and three-tenths of an inch broad: about twenty-two hundred are contained in a quart, and will plant a drill, or row, of two hundred and seventy-five feet, or nearly three hundred hills.

The White Flageolet is very productive, and is recommended for cultivation: the young pods are crisp and tender, and the seeds, green or ripe, are farinaceous, and remarkable for delicacy of flavor.

WHITE KIDNEY.

Kidney. Large White Kidney. Royal Dwarf.

The plants of this variety are from sixteen to eighteen inches high, and readily distinguishable, from their large and broad leaves, and strong, branching habit of growth; the flowers are white; the pods are somewhat irregular in form, six inches long, green at first, yellow when ripe, and contain five (rarely six) beans.

The White Kidney-bean is not early: it blossoms in seven weeks, produces young pods in nine weeks, pods for sh.e.l.ling in eleven weeks, and ripens in a hundred and ten days, from the time of planting.

The ripe seeds are white, more or less veined, pale-yellow about the hilum, kidney-shaped, nearly straight, slightly flattened, fully three-fourths of an inch long, and about three-eighths of an inch thick: from twelve to thirteen hundred are contained in a quart; and this quant.i.ty of seeds will plant a hundred and seventy-five feet of drill, or a hundred and forty hills.

As a string-bean, the variety has little merit; but as a sh.e.l.led-bean, green or ripe, it is decidedly one of the best of the Dwarfs, and well deserving of cultivation. The seeds are of large size, pure white, separate readily from the pods, and are tender and delicate.

WHITE MARROW.

White Marrowfat. Dwarf White Cranberry. White Egg.

Plants vigorous, much branched, and inclined to produce running shoots; flowers white; pods five inches long, nearly three-fourths of an inch broad, pale-green at first, then changing to clear yellow, afterwards becoming pure waxen-white, cream-yellow when ripe, and containing five seeds.

When planted at the commencement of favorable weather, the variety will blossom in seven weeks, yield pods for the table in eight weeks, and ripen in a hundred and five days. When grown for the ripened product, the planting should not be delayed beyond the 20th of June. Planted at this season, or the last week in June, the crop will blossom the first week in August; and, about the middle of the month, pods may be gathered for the table. By the second week in September, the pods will be of sufficient size for sh.e.l.ling; and, if the season be ordinarily favorable, the crop will ripen the last of the month. It must not, however, be regarded as an early variety; and, when practicable, should be planted before the 10th of June.

The ripe seeds are clear white, ovoid or egg-shaped, nine-sixteenths of an inch long, and three-eighths of an inch thick. In size, form, or color, they are scarcely distinguishable from those of the White Running Cranberry. If well grown, twelve hundred seeds will measure a quart.

As a string-bean, the White Marrow is of average quality: but, for sh.e.l.ling in the green state, it is surpa.s.sed by few, if any, of the garden varieties; and deserves more general cultivation. When ripe, it is remarkably farinaceous, of a delicate fleshy-white when properly cooked, and by many preferred to the Pea-bean.

In almost every section of the United States, as well as in the Canadas, it is largely cultivated for market; and is next in importance to the last named for commercial purposes.

In field-culture, it is planted in drills two feet apart; the seeds being dropped in groups, three or four together, a foot apart in the drills. Some plant in hills two and a half or three feet apart by eighteen inches in the opposite direction, seeding at the rate of forty-four quarts to the acre; and others plant in drills eighteen inches apart, dropping the seeds singly, six or eight inches from each other in the drills.

The yield varies from twenty to thirty bushels to the acre, though crops are recorded of nearly forty bushels.

YELLOW-EYED CHINA.

Plant sixteen to eighteen inches high, more branched and of stronger habit than the Black or Red Eyed; flowers white; pods six inches long, nearly straight, pale-green while young, cream-white at maturity, and containing five or six seeds.

It is an early variety. When sown in May, or at the beginning of settled weather, the plants will blossom in six weeks, afford string-beans in seven weeks, pods for sh.e.l.ling in ten or eleven weeks, and ripen in ninety days, from the time of planting. From sowings made later in the season (the plants thereby receiving more directly the influence of summer weather), pods may be plucked for the table in about six weeks, and ripened beans in seventy-five days. Plantings for supplying the table with string-beans may be made until the last week in July.

The ripe beans are white, spotted and marked about the eye with rusty-yellow, oblong, inclining to kidney-shape, more flattened than those of the Red or Black Eyed, five-eighths of an inch long, and three-eighths of an inch in breadth: fifteen hundred and fifty are contained in a quart, and will plant two hundred feet of drill, or a hundred and fifty hills. The plants are large and spreading, and most productive when not grown too closely together.

The Yellow-eyed China is one of the most healthy, vigorous, and prolific of the Dwarf varieties; of good quality as a string-bean; and, in its ripened state, excellent for baking, or in whatever manner it may be cooked. It also ripens its seeds in great perfection; the crop being rarely affected by wet weather, or injured by blight or mildew.

POLE OR RUNNING BEANS.

As a cla.s.s, these are less hardy than the Dwarfs, and are not usually planted so early in the season. The common practice is to plant in hills three feet or three and a half apart; though the lower-growing sorts are sometimes planted in drills fourteen or fifteen inches apart, and bushed in the manner of the taller descriptions of pease.

If planted in hills, they should be slightly raised, and the stake, or pole, set before the planting of the seeds. The maturity of some of the later sorts will be somewhat facilitated by cutting or nipping off the leading runners when they have attained a height of four or five feet.

CASE-KNIFE.

This variety, common to almost every garden, is readily distinguished by its strong and tall habit of growth, and its broad, deep-green, blistered leaves. The flowers are white. The pods are remarkably large; often measuring nine or ten inches in length, and nearly an inch in width. They are of a green color till near maturity, when they change to yellowish-green, and, when fully ripe, to cream-white. A well-formed pod contains eight or nine seeds.

Early plantings will blossom in seven or eight weeks, yield pods for stringing in about ten weeks, green beans in twelve or thirteen weeks, and ripen in a hundred and five days. Later plantings, with the exclusive advantage of summer weather, will supply string-beans in seven weeks, pods for sh.e.l.ling in eight or nine weeks, and ripen in ninety-six days. Plantings for the green beans may be made till nearly the middle of July; and, for the young pods, to the 25th of the month.

The ripe seeds are clear white, kidney-shaped, irregularly flattened or compressed, often diagonally shortened at one or both of the ends, three-fourths of an inch long, and three-eighths of an inch deep. A quart contains about fifteen hundred seeds, and will plant a hundred and seventy-five hills.

It is one of the most prolific of the running varieties. As a sh.e.l.led-bean, it is of excellent quality in its green state; and, when ripe, farinaceous, and well flavored in whatever form prepared. The large pods, if plucked early, are succulent and tender, but coa.r.s.er in texture than those of many other sorts, and not so well flavored.

The Case-knife, in its habit and general appearance, much resembles the Sabre, or Cimeter, of the French; and perhaps is but a sub-variety.

Plants, however, from imported Sabre-beans, were shorter, not so stocky, a little earlier, and the pods, generally, less perfectly formed.

CORN-BEAN.

Stem six feet and upwards in height; flowers bright-lilac; the pods are five inches and a half long, green while young, cream-white at maturity, and contain six or seven seeds.

The variety is late, but remarkable for hardiness and productiveness.

The sh.e.l.led-beans, green or ripe, are little used; the young pods are crisp, succulent, and excellent for the table; and the variety deserves more general cultivation. If plucked as fast as they become of suitable size, the plants will continue to produce them in abundance for six or eight weeks.

The ripe seeds are chocolate-brown, somewhat quadrangular, flattened, half an inch long, and three-eighths of an inch broad. In size and form, they somewhat resemble grains of Indian corn: whence the name. Twelve hundred and fifty seeds are contained in a quart, and will plant a hundred and twenty-five hills.

HORTICULTURAL.

Marbled Prague. _Vil._ London Horticultural.

Stem six feet or more in height; flowers purple; the pods are from five to six inches long, nearly three-fourths of an inch broad, pale-green while young, greenish-white streaked and blotched with brilliant rose-red when more advanced, much contorted, hard, parchment-like and very tenacious of their contents when ripe, and enclose five or six seeds.

When planted at the commencement of the season, the variety will blossom in about seven weeks, produce pods for stringing in nine weeks, green beans in twelve weeks, and ripen in a hundred days. Plantings made during the last week in June will mature their crop, if the season be favorable. For the green beans, plantings may be made until the last of June; and, for the young pods, until the first of July.

The ripe beans are flesh-white, streaked and spotted with bright-pink, or red, with a russet-yellow line encircling the eye. They are egg-shaped, rather more than half an inch in length, and four-tenths of an inch in width and depth. From the time of ripening, the soft, flesh-like tint gradually loses its freshness, and finally becomes cinnamon-brown; the variegations growing relatively duller and darker. A quart contains about eleven hundred seeds, and will plant a hundred and twenty-five hills.

The Horticultural Bean was introduced into this country from England about the year 1825. It has now become very generally disseminated, and is one of the most popular of the running sorts. As a string-bean, it is of good quality; sh.e.l.led in its green state, remarkably farinaceous and well flavored; and, when ripe, one of the best for baking or stewing. It is hardy and productive, but is liable to deteriorate when raised many years in succession from seed saved in the vegetable garden from the scattered pods accidentally left to ripen on the poles. To raise good seed, leave each year a few hills unplucked; allowing the entire product to ripen.

INDIAN CHIEF.