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AMERICAN VARIETIES OF GARDEN BEANS. 



/ BUSH VARIETIES. 



The bush varieties of the Lima bean are now used extensively 

 throughout the United States and in some localities have replaced 

 to a considerable extent the pole varieties, which were the only forms 

 known until the introduction of Henderson's Bush Lima in 1889. 



burpee's- bush lima. 



Listed by 136 seedsmen. Seeds tested: Burpee, 1897, 1898, 1900, 1901, 1904; May, 

 1897; Thorburn, 1901, 1904. 



Description. — Plant large, thick stemmed, erect to somewhat spreading, with occa- 

 sional runners, always with many outspreading branches, late-intermediate in season, 

 long in bearing, heavily productive. Leaf very large, dark green. Flowers white. 

 Green shell pods dark green, of smooth surface, moderately curved, flat, uniform in 

 size, very large for dwarf Limas, medium for pole Limas, very wide, about 4^ inches 

 long, and generally containing 3 or 4 seeds somewhat separated in pod. Point or spur 

 of pod absent or insignificant. Pods borne in clusters of moderate size well up from 

 ground and well toward center of plant. Quality of green shell beans excellent. 

 Dry seeds very large but proportionally short in length, very flatfish through cross 

 section, generally well rounded, usually larger at one end than at other, incurved at 

 eye, very distinctly veined, white with slight greenish tinge. 



Comparison. — This variety and Henderson's Bush are at present by far the most 

 largely grown bush Limas, though each will probably in time be replaced by other 

 more desirable sorts, the former by Wood's Prolific Bush, and the latter by Wonder 

 Bush. Unsurpassed for productiveness, high quality, and immense, handsome, 

 showy pods and seeds, or about equal in these respects to Wonder Bush and Wood's 

 Prolific Bush, but not adapted to as many conditions or as generally serviceable as 

 Henderson's Bush and Wood's Prolific Bush. Too late for maturing full crops at the 

 extreme north and more subject to mildew than the glossy-leaved or small-seeded 

 sorts. Most like Wonder Bush, differing principally in larger growth, more spread- 

 ing habit, and later season. 



Synonyms. — Elliott's Bush Lima, Large White Bush Lima, Mammoth Bush Lima, 

 Willet's Bush Lima. 



History. — Introduced in 1890 by W. Atlee Burpee & Co., who state the variety 

 originated with Ashur Palmer, of Kennett Square, Pa. It is said to have come from 

 a single bush plant found about 1884 in a field of King of Garden Pole Lima on Mr. 

 Palmer's farm. 



Illustrations. — Green shell pods are illustrated on Plate XXI, 2; cross section 

 of green shell pod and of dry seed is similar to Large White Pole (PI. V, 31, and 

 PI. Ill, 22, respectively). 



dreer's bush lima. 



Listed by 68 seedsmen. Seeds tested: Burpee, 1898, 1900, 1903; Dreer, 1906. 



Description. — Plant large, very coarse branched, very spreading, almost creeping 

 in habit, with many runners lying flat on the ground, late, long in bearing, heavily 

 productive. Leaf very large, of a peculiar grayish green color, with a smooth but not 

 glossy surface. Flowers white. Green shell pods medium green, of smooth surface, 

 straight, somewhat turned back at stem end, uniform in size, large-medium for dwarf 

 Limas, small for pole Limas, very thick through cross section, about 2| inches long, 

 usually containing 3 or 4 seeds tightly crowded in pod, decidedly rigid at ventral 

 suture. Point or spur of pod absent or insignificant. Pods borne in moderate-sized 

 clusters close to ground. Quality of green shell beans excellent. Dry seeds large, 



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