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HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK. 



for growth sufficient for reproduction. By slow stages, in its adaptation to 

 changed conditions, it has assumed a dwarf, bushy habit, instead of a climbing 

 plant, as we find it where indigenous. 



The question — What is the cause of this change in habit, w^here and how 

 did the bush limas originate, is readily understood to be in the direct line of 

 evolution. 



There is not. neither has there been, a greater change in the habits of 

 growth of the lima bean than in the quality of the seed produced as an article 

 of food. The large, flat lima grown at the South is far more delicious and ten- 

 der than that grown at the farthest point North where the same can be pro- 

 duuced. The beans brought from Lima would not reproduce themselves if 

 planted in the Northern and Eastern States, and our valued productions are 

 the results of gradual removals from South to North by slow stages. 



THE SCARLET RUNNER. 



What is true in regard to the lima bean is equally true with the scarlet 

 runner, and allied species, also a native of South America and perennial in 

 habit. Here it is grown as an annual, but few, relatively, know it to be other- 

 wise. We are well acquainted with a plant which has been growing in a border 

 from a seed planted ten years ago. This plant is close to a wall on the south 

 side of the house, which is kept so warm by the furnace in the cellar that no 

 frost ever enters the border. It throws up a large number of shoots annually 

 and produces its flowers and seeds in great profusion. We examined its under- 

 ground stem, or tuber, last spring and found it as large as a mangel wurzel. 

 It is but correct to say that each one of the stems is not as prolific as a single 

 stem when grown as an annual. 



CORN. 



There are but few of our useful plants so greatly changed by a change of 

 locality as the different varieties of field corn. Not only is this the case as to 

 the period of time the crop takes to mature, but to the essential character of 

 the grain when grown under changed conditions of soil and climate. Corn 

 has been, and is being, grown to a profit, where there is rarely a month in the 

 year without a frost. I have seen it growing in the province of Quebec, where 

 such climatic conditions existed. The stalks did not exceed more than four 

 feet in height and of proportionate diameter, yet nearly all of them produced 

 each two small ears of sound yellow corn, of most excellent quality. 



Some of this corn was taken to Central New York and given every 

 attention necessary for the production of a crop, and never did plants respond 

 more freely to good treatment. The growth was no larger than the same 

 made in Quebec, and the harvest was made in about the same number of days 

 after planting the crop, being harvested before the middle of August. 



The seed product was all used for planting the following season, but, hav- 

 ing found that in the climate of its adopted home, it had twice as long a time 

 to mature, it took it all and grew as high and strong as the yellow flint corn 

 there generally grown, and produced as large ears. Its identity as an early 

 type or variety was lost, but the lesson taught was instructive and valuable, 

 showing how readily the plant adapted itself to the conditions as found and 

 how readily all plants accept the situation given them. 



