SCARLET-RUNNER. 289 



until the Lima is little, if at all, superior to some of the im- 

 proved forms of the Sieva. 



Plants from seeds of Southern growth are generally 

 healthy and vigorous, and produce beans of remarkable 

 size and excellence ; but the pods develop slowly, and few 

 reach full maturity. 



In tropical climates, the Lima Bean is perennial. 



A sub-variety of the Common Lima, differ- Qreen Lima, 

 ing principally in the pea-^green color of the 

 seeds. 



As generally found in the market, the seeds of the Com- 

 mon and Green Lima are more or less intermixed. By 

 some, the Green is considered more tender, and thought to 

 remain longer on the plants without becoming hard, than the 

 White. The habits of the plants are the same, and there 

 is no difference in the season of maturity, A careful selec- 

 tion of seeds for planting, and skilful culture, would un- 

 doubtedly give a degree of permanency to this difference in 

 color, which appears to be the principal, if not the only, 

 point of variation. 



This, like the Green, is a sub-variety of the Mottled 



Lima. 

 Common Lima. The ripe seeds are dull white, 



or greenish-white, mottled and clouded with purple. 



In the habit of the plant, in the foliage, pods, form, or 

 size of the seeds, or season of maturity, there are no marks 

 of distinction when compared with the Common Lima. 



SCARLET-RUNNER. 



Phaseolus multiflorus. 



From South America. Though nearly allied to the 

 Common Kidney-bean, it is considered by botanists a dis- 

 tinct species, differing in its inflorescence, in the form of its 



19 



