228 



VEGETABLE GARDENING 



with the pod; this class is also known as string beans, 

 although a good string bean is stringless. "Green shell" 

 beans are those which are shelled and used before fully 

 ripe, in distinction from dry shell beans, or those .which 

 are allowed to ripen before harvesting and cooking. All 

 green shell beans may be permitted to mature, when they 

 can then be used as dry shell beans. 



290. Composition. All classes of beans possess high 

 nutritive value, due to their large percentage of protein. 

 The following table gives the composition of beans com- 

 pared with other foods: 



COMPOSITION OF FRESH AND DRIED BEANS COMPARED WITH 

 THAT OF OTHER FOODS* 



291. Importance. All classes of beans are grown ex- 

 tensively for commercial purposes and the home garden 

 is not complete without varieties representing each class. 

 Snap or string beans are grown largely in the southern 

 and Atlantic Coast states for the northern markets and 

 are produced locally for the markets in all parts of the 



*Adapted from table, Farmers' Bulletin 221, p. 17. 



