The Dwarf Lima Beans. 157 



Salle, Niagara county, a well-known and careful horticulturist and 

 author : 



" I am acquainted only with the three kinds of bush Lima, which 

 are now catalogued by every seedsman, viz. : Henderson, Dreer and 

 Burpee. The dwarf or bush character of all these three seems to 

 be well fixed, and only in the Burpee do I find an occasional rever- 

 sion to the original twining form. With the exception of this 

 change in habit of growth, the bush Limas have all the advantages 

 and faults of the original variety. Henderson possesses all the 

 characteristics of the ordinary pole Sieva ; Dreer, those of the 

 ordinary Dreer Pole Lima ; and Burpee, those of the old Large 

 Lima. 



" If I lived in a locality with seasons too short for the develop- 

 ment of the large Lima beans, I would surely plant Henderson, 

 which is as early, as productive, but also as small in foliage and 

 individual seed as the pole Sieva. This bush Sieva is as easily 

 grown as any ordinary dwarf bean, and will do well on any ordinary 

 good com land. I can see no more reason to grow the pole form of 

 the Sieva than to seek for and grow the pole form of the Early Val- 

 entine, or any of our common snap beans, except perhaps for ornament, 

 variety or curiosity. The plants are usually so well loaded with pods 

 that one can gather the latter by handfuls. On the other hand, the 

 single beans are small, and not equal in quality to the larger Limas. 

 The dry bean also is easily grown, since the pods shed water well, 

 and protect the seed from becoming spotted. 



" Dreer Bush Lima equals Dreer Improved Pole Lima in quality, 

 being superior in this respect to all other beans which I have ever 

 grown. Its habit of growth, however, is far from being ideal. The 

 pods grow closely together near the ground, and are in danger of 

 becoming badly soiled, and of rotting long before the beans are fit 

 for use. It will need improvement in this respect long before it 

 will ever become popular, notwithstanding its high quality. 



" Burpee Bush Lima leaves nothing to be desired in form of plant 

 except breeding out the slight tendency reverting to the climbing 

 habit. The plants are reasonably productive, the pods filled with 

 from one to four very large beans, and the quality of the latter 

 good enough for anybody. The ground should be rich and warm, 

 and kept well cultivated. A good crop can then be grown even in 

 a pretty dry season. But this is applicable to Pole Limas with 

 equal force. 



