38 AMERICAN VARIETIES OF GARDEN BEANS. 



seedsmen are not always represented by the same tA-pes from year 

 to year, as they are in England, and for this reason no attempt is 

 here made to describe the varieties Hsted by American seedsmen. 

 The species is very different from Phaseolus lunatus and P. vulgaris 

 not only in seed, pod, and habit of growth, but in general usefulness 

 and value as well. Throughout Europe this bean is largely used as 

 food for man and the plants are extensively grown for stock f eedmg. 

 In Canada also the plants are gro\m to some extent for farm purposes, 

 but generally are unsuited to the hot drj^ climate of most parts of the 

 United States. They may possibly prove profitable in western Wash- 

 ington, where cMmatic conditions are similar to those of England, or they 

 may prove a success in other parts of the Pacific coast, in Colorado, or in 

 the South during winter. They are growm to a small extent in all these 

 places, but their use has not yet become large in any part of this country. 

 Under the varietal name of Broad Windsor the species is sold in America 

 by 54 seedsmen. This name, however, is more commonly used .in the 

 United States to designate the whole class of English Broad beans 

 rather than a distinct varietal tj^je, as in England. Seed of the 

 t}^e commonly sold in this country as Broad Windsor is represented 

 on Plate III, 28. Illustrations of pods and plants are showm in Enghsh 

 seed catalogues, in Bailey's Encyclopedia of Horticulture, and in most 

 other works on vegetable varieties. 



ASPARAGUS, OR YARD LONG, BEANS (VIGNA SESaUIPEDALIS). 



This species, which is variously listed in this country as Yard Long, 

 French Yard Long, Asparagus Pole, Cuban Asparagus Pole, French 

 Asparagus Pole, Japanese Asparagus Pole, and Long-Podded Doli- 

 chos, is an unimportant species in the garden and on the farm. There 

 appear to be about a dozen distinct varieties in existence throughout 

 the world, but in this country practically but one sort is in cultiva- 

 tion. Under the varietal name of Yard Long or Asparagus Pole the 

 species has been hsted by American seedsmen at least since 1845. 

 The vine, pod, and leaf are very similar to the common co\\T)ea, and 

 the plant should more properly be classed with that vegetable rather 

 than with garden varieties. Some seedsmen, however, recommend 

 the plant for its dry seeds and snap pods, put it is really no more 

 serviceable for this purpose than the common cow^jea, which is so 

 much used as snaps, green shell, and dry shell beans throughout the 

 South. Its chief interest to amateurs is mainly on account of its 

 very long pods, which often measure 3 feet or more in length, its 

 climbing habit, and its very large growth of vine. Ripe seeds of the 

 type commonly sold in this country are shown on Plate II, figure 1. 



109 



