FOR VICTORIAN INDUSTRIAL CULTURE. 



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native of Mexico. A twining showy perennial, as useful as 

 the ordinary Trencli Bean. Its seeds usually larger than 

 those of the latter plant, purjDle with black dots, but some- 

 times also pure blue and again quite white. The flowers 

 occur sometimes white. The root contains a narcotic poison. 



Phaseolus lunatus, Linne. 



Considered as a native of tropical America, but also recorded 

 as wild from many parts of tropical Africa and Asia. Bien- 

 nial according to Roxburgh. Much cultivated in the warm 

 zone for its edible beans, which are purple or white. A 

 yellow-flowered variety or closely-allied species is known as 

 the Madagascar-Bean and proved hardy and productive here. 

 P. perennis, Walt., from the United States of North 

 America, is another allied plant. 



Phaseolus Max, Linne. {P. Mungo, Linne ; P. radicatus, Linne.) 

 The Green Gram. South Asia and tropical Australia. An 

 annual very hairy plant, not much climbing. Frequently 

 reared in India, when rice fails or where that crop cannot be 

 produced. The seeds are but small, and the herb is not 

 available for fodder. This plant requires no irrigation, and 

 ripens in two and a-half to three months. The grain tastes well 

 and is esteemed wholesome. The harvest is about thirtyfold. 



Phaseolus vulgaris, Linne.* 



The ordinary Kidney-Bean or French Bean or Haricot. 

 India, from whence it came to Europe through the conquests 

 of Alexander the Great ; but apparently it is also wild in 

 North- Western Australia, Though this common and im- 

 portant culinary annual is so well known, it has been deemed 

 desirable, to refer to it here with a view of reminding, that 

 the Kidney-Bean is nearly twice as nutritive as wheat. 

 The meal from Beans might also find far augmented use. 

 As constituents of the Beans should be mentioned a large 

 proportion of starch (nearly half), then much Legumin, also 

 some Phaseolin (which like Amygdalin can be converted into 

 an essential oil) and Inosit-sugar. Lentils contain more 

 Legumin but less starch, while Peas and Beans are in respect 

 to the proportion of these two nourishing substances almost 

 alike. The Kidney-Bean can still be cultivated in cold 

 latitudes and at sub-alpine elevations, if the uninterrupted 

 summer-warmth lasts for four months ; otherwise it is more 

 tender than the Pea. The soil should for field-culture be 

 friable and somewhat limy and not sandy. Phaseolus nanus, 

 L., the Dwarf-Bean, and P. tumidus, SaAd, the Sugar-Bean or 

 Sword-Bean or Egg-Bean, are varieties of P. vulgaris. 

 Several other species of Phaseolus seem worthy of culinary 

 culture. 



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