BEAN. 75 



and Iris are red, resembling blood. He 

 also in his 12th chapter of the same book 

 calls them Phaseoli, and says the pod is to be 

 eaten with the seed : from this laconic notice 

 we may assume that they were but little 

 esteemed at that time in Italy, where lupines 

 were then so much admired as food. 



The French name of Haricot for this pulse 

 originated from their being much used by 

 their cooks in the composition of a dish so 

 called. 



The English name of Kidney-bean was 

 given on account of the seed being somewhat 

 of a kidney shape. 



We conceive it probable, that these beans 

 were first introduced to this country from 

 the Netherlands about the year 1509, when 

 gardening first began to be attended to in 

 England ; the white Dutch kidney-bean 

 having been the earliest sort known in this 

 kingdom. 



Gerard mentions a considerable variety that 

 was cultivated in England in his time, and says, 

 " The fruit and pods of kidney-beans boyled 

 togither before they be ripe, and buttered, 

 and so eaten with their pods, are exceeding 

 delicate meate, and do not ingender winde as 

 the other pulse doe." This medical herba- 



