74 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



The ashes of bean-stalks make good and 

 clear glass. 



KIDNEY BEAN.— PHASEOLUS. 



A leguminous plant. In Botany it is ar- 

 ranged in the same class and order as the 

 bean Faba. 



This pulse is generally, but improperly 

 called French bean, for the old French name 

 of this pulse, Fives de Home, evidently 

 proves it not to have been a native of France. 

 We also find, that it was called the Roman 

 bean in our language, about the time of 

 Queen Elizabeth. Gerard gives it also the 

 name of Sperage bean, and says it is called 

 Faselles, or long peason. The Dutch at that 

 time (1596) called them Turcks-boonen, viz. 

 Turk's bean. From thence, but more parti- 

 cularly from the account of the great Roman 

 naturalist, we may conclude this excellent 

 and wholesome vegetable is a native of the 

 eastern extremity of Europe, or that part of 

 Asia now belonging to the Turks ; for Pliny 

 in the 7th chapter of his 18th book, men- 

 tions these beans, and says, those of Sesama 





