LEGUMINOUS PLANTS. 



107 



severely attacked by the Beaa aphis, and also by some fungi. 

 Herodotus states that "Beans are sown in no part of Egypt, neither 

 will the inhabitants eat them, either boiled or raw ; the priests will 

 not even look at this pulse, esteem'ing it exceedingly unclean." 



The Kidney-bean {Phaseolus vulgaris) is an important garden 

 legume, of which we desire to prolong the crop as long as possible. 

 There are very many varieties, some having white seeds, others seeds 

 coloured ; some being tall or running, others dwarf. The difference 

 in the bean itself does not warrant much trouble being taken in 



Fig. 149. — Negro Bean, \ size. 



Fig. 250. — Scarlet Runner, \ size. 



selecting the kind, and we may restrict our growth to two or three 

 varieties. The Newington Wonder and Dwarf Negro are good 

 coloured varieties ; the latter especially forms fine regular symmetrical 

 pods, and is chiefly cultivated for the London market (fig. 149). We 

 sow our first crop out of doors the last week in April, and obtain 

 produce in the middle of July, and we sow two or three successive 

 crops. Aboiat the middle of July we make a final sowing in one of 

 the cold frames, generally in one where a crop of melons has been 



