ASPARAGUS-BEAN. 481 



shaped ; pale green at first ; cream-yellow, shrivelled, and 

 irregular in form, like those of the Red variety, at maturity, 

 and contain five or six seeds. 



It is a few days later than the White Cranberry, and nearly 

 two weeks later than the Red. Planted at the commence- 

 ment of the season, it blossomed in eight weeks, yielded pods 

 for the table in about ten weeks, pods for shelling in twelve 

 or thirteen weeks, and ripened in a hundred and ten days. 

 Early summer plantings blossomed in seven weeks, produced 

 pods for the table in less than nine weeks, and ripened in 

 about a hundred days. When grown for the ripened crop, 

 it should have the advantage of the entire season ; but, 

 when cultivated for its young pods, plantings may be made 

 till the first of July. 



The seeds are yellow, with a narrow, dark line encircling 

 the hilum, round-ovoid, half an inch long, and three eighths 

 of an inch in breadth and thickness. Thirteen hundred and 

 fifty are contained in a quart, and will plant a hundred and 

 twenty-five hills. 



The variety is hardy and prolific, of good quality as a 

 string-bean, or for shelling in the green state. When ripe, 

 the seeds are nearly equal to the White Marrow for baking, 

 though the color is less agreeable. 



ASPARAGUS-BEAN. 



Long-podded Dolichos. Dolichos sesquipedalis. 

 The Asparagus-bean, in its manner of growth, inflores- 

 cence, and in the size and character of its pods, is quite 

 distinct from the class of beans before described. It is a 

 native of tropical America, and requires a long, warm sea- 

 son for its full perfection. 



The stem is from six to seven feet high ; the leaves are 

 41 



