THE BEAN. 159 



LYTHYRUS is a genus of the leguminous plants, containing 19 

 species. To this genus belong the Sweet Pea, so frequent and ornamen- 

 tal, the perennial Everlasting Pea, Earth Pea, jlnsorts Pea, &c. L. 

 Sativa, or Chickling vetch, and L. pratensis, or Meadow vetchling, are 

 cultivated in Europe as fodder. 



The genus Pterocarpus, of a Red Saunders, which is the well known 

 tree, affording the fine coloring wood of commerce, is in this class and 

 order, as its fruit is in pods. Many other plants belong also here, 

 but are mentioned under other heads, or do not merit particular no- 

 tice. 



BEAN, Viclafaba. C. 22. 0. 4. Leguminoseae. sp. 38-100. DC. 

 A. 2-6 ft A native of Egypt, and probably introduced by the Ro- 

 mans into Europe. The seeds, the parts mostly used, are a whole- 

 some aliment and are much eaten here in their dried as well as green 

 state. There are 12 varieties cultivated. As an accompaniment for 

 a boiled dinner, the garden beanis excellent, served with butter, gravy 

 and spices and a bunch of green parsley. 30 or 40 minutes are re- 

 quired for boiling. With fat pork or bacon, they are a dainty dish. 

 They should be gathered when soft for the table, and hard for seed or 

 baking. To bake the white beans, put them in water and hang 

 them over the fire during the night, rinse them in the morning, put 

 them in a kettle with half sliced pork, cover them with hot water for 

 an hour, put in pepper, &c., and place them in the oven for three or 

 four hours A pound of pork to a quart of beans. String beans 

 should be eaten with caution in hot weather; and dried beans are 

 flatulent. The latter are exported in large quantities from the middle 

 and eastern states and are used as ship-stores. 



There are several varieties of the field bean ; but the fine and small 

 ones are the best. Bean flour is nutritive ; it is much used for bread, 

 especially with wheat flour, with which it is said dealers often mix it. 

 Beans are often roasted as a substitute for coffee. Roman ladies used 

 bean flour as a cosmetic. If injured, beans may be cut down to the 

 ground, during their flowering, and they will grow again and bear a 

 new crop and be made, it is supposed, perennial. 



The pole, or running beans are the large white, or Carolina Lima. A 

 quart are required for 100 hills : a quart of the small pole beans 

 plant 300 hills. The kidney bean should not be tough, when gathered, 

 and the strings should all be stripped off; soak them in salted water 

 for a time, then put them in boiling water, and in 15 or 20 minutes 

 take them up, drain and serve them with gravy and melted butter. 

 This bean is in the highest repute. It was brought from the Nether- 

 lands in 1509. There are 11 varieties of it cultivated, 8 of the dwarf 

 and 3 of the running kinds. A favorite dish, called haricot, is made 

 of the former by putting them into a stew-pan, after being boiled for 

 a short time, with strong gravy and high seasoning. The former 





