LIMA BEANS. 



41 



much tinged with purple. Flower stalks very large and numerous. Blossoms bril- 

 liant scarlet in color, extremely large, very ornamental, about twice the size of those of 

 Kidney varieties, and with 20 to 40 on each flower stalk, but only few setting pods. 

 Snap pods uniform and long-medium in size, much curved, flat, very dark green, often 

 purplish tinged along sutures, of very rough surface, brittle, of very hard flesh, stringy, 

 of moderate fiber, of fair quality, entirely free from anthracnose. Point of pod very 

 short, thick, and curved. Green shell pods full on outside between seeds, decidedly 

 purplish tinged at sutures, about 6^ inches long, and containing five seeds somewhat 

 separated in pod. Dry pods easy to thrash. Dry seeds very large, of medium length, 

 flattish oval through cross section, generally well rounded at ends, usually larger at 

 one end than at the other, mostly straight at eye, violet-black in color except mottled 

 with bluish violet at back and ends. 



Comparison. — Little known or cultivated in this country, but largely grown through- 

 out Europe, being used for green shell beans the same as Limas, which can not be 

 successfully grown in the cool climate of England and other European countries. 

 A great many varieties are known to the seed trade, but in the United States only Scarlet 

 Runner and White Dutch Runner are in use. Both varieties are wholly different in 

 appearance and growth of vine from other American beans and hardly recognizable 

 as edible to most Americans, though, nevertheless, they make excellent snaps. They 

 succeed especially well in California, where they are said to give a larger and more 

 continuous supply of snap pods than any other variety. Highly recommended for 

 trial not only for edible pods but also as an ornamental climber. 



History. — Grown in this country at least since 1800, and one of the first cultivated 

 varieties. 



Illustrations- — Seeds are same size and shape as White Dutch Runner (PL IV, 28) ; 

 snap pods same as White Dutch Runner (PI. XVIII, 1); cross sections of immature 

 green shell pods also resemble same variety (PI. V, 32 and 33). 



WHITE DUTCH- RUNNER POLE. 



Listed by 40 seedsmen. Seeds tested: Burpee, 1903; Thorburn, 1897, 1901, 1902, 

 1905. 



Description.- — Same as given for Scarlet Runner, except stems and pods are solid 

 green and blossoms and seeds solid white in color. 



Comparison. — Usefulness and value about the same as explained for Scarlet Runner. 



Synonyms. — Childs's Extra Early Pole Lima, Isbell's Perfect Pole Lima. 



History. — One of the oldest existing varieties. Listed by American seedsmen at 

 least since 1825. 



Illustrations. — Dry seeds are illustrated on Plate IV, 28; cross section of imma- 

 ture green shell pods on Plate V, 32 and 33, and snap pods on Plate XVIII, 1. 



LIMA BEANS (PHASEOLUS LUNATUS). 



This species is more extensively cultivated in the United States 

 than in any other country, though there are many forms in use 

 throughout South America and in tropical countries which' are not 

 known in the United States. Nearly all foreign sorts are merely 

 local varieties and owing to the fact that they usually have colored 

 seeds, which are not popular in this country, and are also too late in 

 season to be suitable for our climate they are not referred to in the 

 following descriptions. The species is usually divided by American 

 seedsmen into pole and bush varieties, as follows: 



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