278 LEGUMINOUS PLANTS. 



pods were plucked for use July 24, and the crop ripened the 

 middle of August. 



The ripe seeds are of a clear ochre-yellow color, broadly 

 kidney-shaped, five-eighths of an inch long, and three- 

 eighths of an inch in width. If well grown, one thousand 

 will measure a quart ; and this amount of seed will be suf- 

 ficient for a hundred hills. 



The California Bean is hardy and productive, yielding its 

 long and broad pods in great abundance till destroyed by 

 frost. Though much used as a string-bean, it is principally 

 valued for the excellent quality of the seeds in their green 

 state. 



From reliable authority, the variety is grown to a 

 considerable extent on the Pacific coast of South Ameri- 

 ca, in some parts of California, and also in the Sandwich 

 Islands. 



The true name appears to be wanting. Though it is pop- 

 ularly known in this section of the country as the " Califor- 

 nia," the name seems to have been given in accordance with 

 a custom, much too prevalent, of applying the term to what- 

 ever fruits, flowers, or vegetables may have been originally 

 received from the State of California. 



Case-knife. This variety, common to almost every garden, 

 is readily distinguished by its strong and tall 

 habit of growth, and its broad, deep-green, blistered leaves. 

 The flowers are white ; the pods are remarkably large, 

 and often measure nine or ten inches in length, nearly an 

 inch in width, and, if well formed, contain eight or nine 

 seeds. 



Early plantings blossomed in seven or eight weeks, yield- 

 ed pods for stringing in ten weeks, green beans in twelve or 

 thirteen weeks, and ripened in a hundred and five days. 

 Later plantings, with the exclusive advantage of summer 

 weather, produced green pods in seven weeks, pods for 

 shelling in eight or nine weeks, and ripened in ninety-six 



