158 



likely to occur and where there is danger of a variety losing its 

 identity. 



As far as possible such words as early, earliest, select, pedigree, 

 extra, improved, famous, new, celebrated, genuine, perfect, prolific, 

 and the names of persons have been omitted. The words pole, 

 bush, dwarf, and climbing, also, have been omitted, except where 

 we have both dwarf and climbing forms of the same variety. It 

 is evident, from what has been said, that no hard and fast nomen- 

 clatorial rules can be applied to a subject of this kind. 



Cultural Pecull\rities. 



The bean is a tropical or semi-tropical plant and is therefore 

 very susceptible to injury by frost. It succeeds well, however, in 

 all parts of the world where there are at least three or four months 

 of the year free from frost. The English Broad Bean is more 

 hardy and will stand considerable frost. The common bean (Phase- 

 olns vulgaris) is not particular as to soil. It will thrive on poor 

 soil better than many other crops. This fact is accountable for 

 the familiar expression : " It's good enough for beans." It suc- 

 ceeds best on a moderately light well-drained soil. This is es- 

 pecially true with the garden varieties which, in order to produce 

 good crisp and fleshy pods, require rapid development. While the 

 bean belongs to the family of plants known as nitrogen gatherers, 

 good results are obtained from light dressings of soluble ni- 

 trogenous fertilizers. Such applications, by increasing the vigor, 

 tend to make the plant less susceptible to disease. Lima beans 

 require more careful treatment. Professor Bailey^ in this con- 

 nection says : " The large flat Limas are perennial or at least 

 plurannuals, in their native countries. They therefore require a 

 long season, and one who expects to grow them in the North should 

 endeavor in every way to shorten the period of growth. This 

 may be done, in the first place, by planting the earlier varieties ; 

 and, in the second place, by exercising great care in the selection of 

 soil and in givins^ ])articular attention to cultivation. Light and so- 

 called ' quick ' soils arc best. Soils which are naturally sandy and 

 loose, but which have been enriched in previous years b}' the addi- 

 tion of manure, are excellent for Lima beans, es]iecially if they 

 have a warm exposure. Tiie soil should also be dry. Coarse, 

 raw manure should be avoided on Lima beans, because it tends to 

 make rank and too late growth. If any fertilizer is applied the 



^Bailey, L. II., Bui. 115, Cornell Eyp, Sla., 1896, p. 365. 



