106 AMERICAN VARIETIES OF GARDEN BEANS, 



Comparison. — Little known or planted. As trials of this variety have not been 

 complete, it is not possible at this time to give its general usefulness and value, only to 

 state that it appears to he of same class as German Black Wax, differing principally 

 in color of seeds, in much later season, and with pods very deeply and peculiarly 

 depressed on outside between seeds. 



History. — Introduced by Darch & Hunter in 1902. 



Illustrations. — Dry seeds are shown on Plate II, 19; cross sections of snap pods re- 

 semble Prolific Black Wax (PI. V, 8), differing principalh^ in larger size; snap pods 

 also resemble Prolific Black Wax (PI. VII, 4), differing principally in being much 

 larger through cross section, straight in shape, of much shorter, thicker pod point, and 

 more depressed between seeds; green shell pods, however, are very different from 

 above variety or any other here illustrated, the characteristic deep dejiressions be- 

 tween seeds l^eing at this stage even more marked than in Round Yellow Six Weeks. 



PENCIL POD BLACK WAX. 



Listed by 46 seedsmen. Seeds tested: Burpee, 1902; Keeney, 1904-1906; Thor- 

 burn, 1901, 1902. 



Description.- — Plant large, without runners, generally drooping with fruit-laden 

 branches and spreading when fully grown, thick stemmed, green throughout except 

 generally slightly purplish tinged in places on branches and flower stalk, especially at 

 their nodes; intermediate in season, of long to moderate bearing period, heavily to 

 moderately productive. Leaf large, medium green, wide across leaflets, and of rough 

 surface. Flowers pink. Snap pods somewhat variable in size, very long, frequently 

 decidedly scimiter curved, round, deeply creasebacked, medium yellow, extremely 

 brittle, absolutely stringless, alisolutely without fiber, of excellent quality, fairly free 

 from anthracnose. Point of pod long, very curved, often irregular in shape. Green 

 shell pods borne equally above and below foliage, never splashed or appreciably 

 colored, full on outside between seeds, about 6 inches long, and usually containing 

 7 seeds very crowded in pod. Dry pods very hard to thrash. Dry seeds large-medium 

 in size, proportionally long, roundish through cross section, truncate or rounded at 

 ends, straight at eye, sliver from pod occasionally attached to eye, solid black in color. 



Comparison. — Extensively planted but perhaps not included among the twenty 

 most largely grown bush varieties. Chiefly on account of its productiveness, high 

 quality, and extremely long, handsome pods, this variety has been classed by some 

 as not only the best wax variety for home use, but also the best all-round wax bean 

 and an excellent sort for market gardening. All of these claims are probably true 

 for some locations and the variety is undoubtedly one of the best wax beans for home 

 use and for market gardening where the highest quality is desired, but as regards 

 uniformity in size and shape of pods, straightness, and general attractiveness, the 

 variety is generally surpassed by Maule's Nameless Wax of 1906, while Keeney's 

 Rustless Golden Wax and Golden Crown Wax both surpass it in other qualities. For 

 shipping and general market gardening this variety is not, however, nearly so desir- 

 able as some of the more uniformly shaped, hardier, tougher-podded, more produc- 

 tive sorts, such as Hodson Wax and Bismarck Black Wax. In appearance and general 

 usefulness and value, this variety is about the same as Round Pod Kidney Wax. 

 After this variety it is perhaps next most like German Black Wax, differing princi- 

 pally in decidedly longer, straighter pods, later season, greater productiveness, and 

 much larger vine. 



Synonyms. — Golden Scimiter Wax, Salzer's Giant Stringless Wax. 



Confusing name. — Livingston's Yellow Pencil Pod Wax, a very different type of 

 bean. 



History. — Introduced in 1900 by Johnson & Stokes. Originated by X. B. Keeney 

 & Son, of Leroy, N. Y. 



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