PREFACE. 



Studies of garden beans at the Cornell University Experiment 

 Station have covered a period of more than ten years. They were 

 commenced by Professor L. H. Bailey, who published two bulletins 

 (Nos. 87 and 115) upon Lima beans. About this time cooperative 

 studies were undertaken with Messrs. N. B. Keeney & Son, Le Roy, 

 N. Y. These investigations were instituted by Professor Bailey and 

 were continued for two years by the writer. A large number of 

 photographs and a mass of data were secured. In 1905 a mono- 

 graphic study of the genus Phaseolus was undertaken by Mr. C. D. 

 Jarvis, the author of the following bulletin, as a subject upon which 

 to center work for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. At the 

 same time an opportunity occurred for cooperation with the Bureau 

 of Plant Industry. An extensive collection was then grown at 

 Ithaca and practically a duplicate collection under the Messrs. 

 Keeney at Le Roy. Still another set of plots was maintained by 

 the Bureau of Plant Industry at the Arlington Farm near Wash- 

 ington. Mr. Jarvis continued field studies at Ithaca for one season, 

 when he carried his work to Connecticut where it has been continued 

 for two additional years. All departmental data and illustrations 

 have been available to Mr. Jarvis. 



The accompanying bulletin then represents a mass of information 

 accumulated over a considerable period. It is an attempt to present 

 a correct nomenclature and a key to the present-day varieties of 

 brans based upon the form and color of the fresh seed. How use- 

 ful the key will be in determining old seed will of course depend 

 upon the stability of the markings. Fresh seed is what all seeds- 

 men and planters should be interested in. The commercial and 

 field aspects of bean growing have been already treated by the 

 Experiment Station. This bulletin is not intended for general dis- 

 tribution, but rather to supply the bean fancier with technically 

 accurate information of immediate value and service. It is also 

 propfrr to state tliat the manuscript of this bulletin was prepared 

 by the author and placed in our hands before the bulletin on the 

 same subject was published by the Bureau of Plant Industry. The 

 author was in no way responsible for the delay in publishing it. 



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