92 



THE VEGETABLES OF NEW YORK 



True Bush, Willets Bush. This variety was said to have 

 originated in 1883 at which time the finder, Ashur Palmer 

 of Kennett Square, Pa., claimed to have found it as a 

 single dwarf plant in a field of the Large White pole 

 limas. Prompted very largely by the growing interest 

 in the development of the dwarf type of the standard 

 pole lima, Mr. Palmer brought his selection to W. Atlee 

 Burpee, who after due care and selection increased the 

 amount of stock seed and introduced the variety in 1890. 

 Naturally, the supply was quite limited, thereby neces- 

 sitating its distribution in rather small amounts which 

 were sold at the attractive price of 75 cents per four 

 beans. The Burpee was the first true large lima 

 developed and should not be confused with Henderson 

 which belongs to the small Carolina Sieva or Sewee 

 group, or to the Kumerle or Dreer type, commonly 

 known as the Potato lima. 



This variety has been and still is considered one of 

 the leading bush limas. It is surpassed in its group 

 only by the so-called improved strain introduced in 1907 

 by Burpee as Improved Burpee. It is very productive, 

 with high quality, large, attractive seeds. As to season, 

 it may be considered too late to be used in the northern 

 states for a full crop. At this Station it required 86 

 days to mature a crop, 3 days later than Henderson and 

 1 day earlier than Philadelphia. In plant characteristics 

 it is more like Wonder than any other, being less bushy 

 and more straggling in growth; pods slightly smaller 

 and seeds somewhat broader and thinner, although 

 the latter is not a distinctive difference. 



Plant medium to large, 14—20 inches high with an equal spread; 

 a true bush lima, altho occasionally a semi-runner type is produced; 

 always rather scraggly in appearance. Vigorous, thick stemmed, 

 and heavily productive. Foliage abundant, light green to occasion- 

 ally dull green. Surface smooth, light veined with practically no 

 pubescence, thick and leathery in texture; leaflets large, broadly 

 ovate; petioles medium to long. Flowers white, turning cream 

 color with age, borne on very long, thick stalks. 



Pods borne intermediate and above the foliage; dark dul! 

 green in color. Size long, very broad and slender (4J^— 5 x 1—1 }4 

 x %~ig), containing 3-4 seeds per pod. Shape decidedly flat, very 

 long oval in cross-section, slightly curved especially near tip, straight 

 backed, regular, altho occasionally slightly constricted, not crowded, 

 smooth, filled to the tip and edge and abruptly rounded to truncate 

 on the end. Spur very short, thick, stiff and sharp. Suture, 

 placental is flattened and carpellary, acute. 



Seeds large, 2. 2 x 1.4 x. 5 cm. (25 per oz.); oblong, broad, 

 rather triangular, occasionally sub-reniform, slightly incurved at 

 the hilum, very long oval thru cross-section, distinctly flattened; 

 ends, one usually larger and broader than the other, both rounded, 

 altho the broader end is more gradual. Hilum medium, slightly 

 protuberant. Color dingy white marked with light grayish-brown 

 converging vein-like lines from the hilum to the dorsal surface, 

 greenish tinge may occur to some extent. Surface moderately 

 wrinkled. Quality excellent. 



Burpee Improved. Refs. 48, 77. Syns. Enor- 

 mous, Giant Bush, Giant Improved, Improved Large 

 Bush, New Improved, Wilson Bush. According to W. 

 Atlee Burpee, this variety was an entirely " new crea- 

 tion " and not an improved selection. It was dis- 

 covered in 1903 as a sport in a field of Challenger Pole 

 limas and was introduced by the above-named seedsman 

 in 1907. Since then, it has gradually gained in popu- 



larity; and today this variety is in more demand than 

 Burpee Bush. 



In earliness, it comes between Henderson and 

 Burpee's Bush, although very little difference, if any, 

 exists between it and the latter. At Geneva it matures 

 in 86 days, the same as for Burpee, 1 day earlier than 

 Philadelphia, and 3 days later than for Henderson. 

 The plant is somewhat more productive, and more erect 

 with less tendency towards the scraggly growth such as 

 Burpee manifests. The leaves and pods are slightly 

 larger, the latter being somewhat straighter and more 

 plump than Burpee Bush. The variety is gradually 

 displacing the first large lima variety introduced, since 

 it is a decided improvement over it. 



Plant medium to large, 16-22 inches tall with spread somewhat 

 less; erect and not inclined to run or produce a scraggly growth to 

 any extent. Vigorous, thick stemmed, very prolific. Foliage abun- 

 dant, dark green, almost glossy. Surface very slightly crumpled, 

 lightly veined, with practically no pubescence; thick and leathery 

 in texture; leaflets large (4 7 ^ x 3}± inches), broadly ovate. Petioles 

 medium to long. Flowers white, turning cream colored with age; 

 borne on long, stout fruit stalks. 



Pods borne intermediate among the foliage, medium dark 

 green in color. Size long, broad and moderately thick (3-5 J i x 1- 

 IJi^'r'a inches), containing 4-5 seeds per pod. Shape flat, 

 long oval thru cross-section, moderately curved, straight-backed, 

 regular, filled to the tip but not to the edge and abruptly rounded 

 to truncate on the end. Spur very short, thick and straight. 

 Suture, placental is flat and carpellary, acute. 



Seeds large, 2.2 x 1.5 x .8 cm. (23 per oz.), broad oblong, 

 somewhat sub-reniform, long oval thru cross-section, fairly plump, 

 surface rather wrinkled or marked with converging corrugations, 

 ends rounded. Hilum small, flattened. Color pale creamy white, 

 few with a greenish white tinge, marked with dark shaded converging 

 lines from the hilum to the dorsal margin. Surface quite wrinkled. 

 Quality excellent. 



Dreer's Bush. Refs. 17, 29, 39, 40, 41, 48, 57, 59, 

 91. Syns. Challenger, Dallas, Dwarf Potato, Kumerle, 

 Potato Bush, Salzer's Bush, Thorburn's Bush Lima. 

 This variety was preceded by Kumerle or Thorburn 

 Lima, which are identical. The stock of this variety 

 originated from occasional dwarf forms of the Challenger 

 Pole Lima from which it probably derived the name 

 Challenger Bush, sometimes applied to it. The original 

 stock found by J. W. Kumerle was introduced by J. M. 

 Thorburn 8b Co. in 1889, two years before the variety 

 now known as Dreer was brought before the public by 

 Henry A. Dreer. The name Dreer has been retained and 

 now is the most commonly used to designate the strain. 

 It represents a type more widely known as the potato 

 lima, having a much plumper and thicker seed than 

 either the Henderson or the Burpee. It is reported 

 to be especially adapted to light soils and dry seasons, 

 of excellent quality, and often considered as a leader 

 in productiveness, although variety tests at other 

 stations show strains quite variable. It is probably 

 more dependable in this respect than Burpee. At 

 Geneva it proved to be one of the two latest bush 

 varieties, coming into harvest in 90 days, the same as 

 Dwarf Large White and 4 days later than Fordhook. 



The plant is quite different in growth habit from 

 other bush forms. It is much more spreading and in- 

 clined to produce more runners than Burpee. Pods 



