46 



AMERICAN VARIETIES OF GARDEN BEANS. 



inches long, and containing 3 or 4 seeds well separated in pod. Point or spur of pod 

 - very small or almost absent. Pods borne in large, numerous clusters well above plant 

 and well toward its center. Quality of green shell beans fair to good. Dry seeds 

 large, proportionally short, decidedly flatfish through cross section, rounded or slightly 

 truncate at ends, larger at one end than at other, almost straight at eye, very distinctly 

 veined, solid creamy white. 



Comparison. — New and as yet not extensively cultivated, but probably will in time 

 largely replace the old Henderson's Bush, as the objectionable small seed and pod of 

 that variety have been much enlarged in this valuable sort. Excepting for being a 

 few days later, all the excellent qualities of the Henderson's Bush have been fully 

 retained or perceptibly increased. Vine somewhat larger and more vigorous than 

 Henderson's Bush and pods straighter and slightly curling from side to side. Pods 

 same as Wood's Improved Pole except smaller. 



Synonyms. — Henderson's Improved Bush Lima, King's Improved Bush Lima, 

 Prolific Bush Lima, St. Louis Seed Co.'s Improved Bush Lima, Tucker's Prolific Bush 

 Lima. 



History. — Introduced in 1899 by T. W. Wood & Sons, who state that it is a sport from 

 Henderson's Bush and was obtained from a farmer near Richmond, Va. 



Illustrations. — Dry seeds are similar to Wood's Improved Pole (PI. IV, 26); green 

 shell pod and cross section of same to Wood's Improved Pole (PI. XXI, 4, and PI. 

 V, 35, respectively); leaf to Small White Pole (PI. XXIV, 5). 



POLE VARIETIES. 



The pole sorts described below represent as great variation in 

 season and productiveness of plant and of color, shape, and size of 

 pod as do the bush varieties. All are of American origin. 



dreer's pole lima. 



Listed by 58 seedsmen. Seeds tested: Burpee, 1900; Dreer, 1906; Henderson, 

 1902; Johnson & Stokes, 1904, 1905; May, 1897; Thorburn, 1901. 



Description. — Vine of very large growth, of good climbing habit, much branched, 

 thick stemmed, very late, very heavily productive, long in bearing. Leaf very large, 

 dark green, smooth, of narrower and more pointed leaflets than the large, flat-seeded 

 sorts. Flowers white. Green shell pods medium green, straight, generally turned 

 back at stem end, uniform in size, large, wide, exceedingly thick, ridged along ventral 

 suture, about 3| inches long, and usually containing 4 or 5 seeds very crowded in pod. 

 Point or spur of pod absent or insignificant. Quality of green shell beans excellent. 

 Dry seeds large, almost as wide as long, nattish oval through cross section, rounded or 

 truncate at ends, generally larger at one end than at other, straight or rounded at eye, 

 very distinctly veined, white with slight greenish tinge. 



Comparison. — One of the most largely grown pole Limas and the only potato-seeded 

 variety of the class. More largely planted in the East and North than in the South 

 and West. Excellent for home or garden, and next to the small-seeded sorts the most 

 certain cropper and often the most productive. Generally described as the best in 

 quality, but tastes differ greatly in deciding quality in Limas and the difference be- 

 tween Lima varieties in this particular can not be said to be important. Pod and leaf 

 very similar to Dreer's Bush Lima, differing principally in larger size and later season. 



Synonyms. — Challenger Pole Lima, Elliott's Improved Pole Lima, Noll's Ideal 

 Potato Pole Lima, Potato Pole Lima, Shotwell's Pole Lima, Walter's Prolific Pole Lima. 



History. — Introduced in 1875 by Henry A. Dreer, who writes that the variety was ob- 

 tained about 1857 from H. Kimber, of Kimberton, Pa. The old stock of Dreer's Pole 



109 



