96 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



white seed, like that of the type, but marked with a small brown 

 or blackish blotch close to the Jiiluiii. 



Dwarf Lima Bean. — An American variety, distinct, and much 

 appreciated in the United States, where Lima Beans are amongst 

 the vegetables most generally used in the autumn. Its leaves, 

 flowers, and pods resemble much those of the Sieva Bean, but it 

 is a truly dwarf variety, forming low, compact bushes, which do not 

 require any support. Added to this, its earliness ensures its success 

 in many localities where the tall Lima Bean fails to reach maturity. 



Mottled Lima, or Marbled Cape, Bean.— This differs from 

 the Common Lima Bean only by the peculiar variegation of the 

 seed, in which a large patch of red, more or less deep, surrounds 

 the hiluni, from which it extends to one end of the seed, which it 

 entirely covers for about one-third of its length ; the remainder of 

 the surface being finely dotted with the same red on a white 

 ground. This variety is alm.ost as late as the Common Lima Bean. 



Small Lima, or Sieva, Bean. — Stems slender and green ; 

 leaves smaller and darker in colour than those of the Common 

 Limia Bean. This variety of PJiaseoliis lujiatus differs from the 

 preceding ones in having much smaller seeds, which in other 

 respects resemble those of the Common Lima Bean, but are seldom 

 over I in. in length, about ^ in. broad, and ^ in. thick. The Small 

 Lima Bean is also earlier than the other varieties of PJiaseoliis 

 limatus, and its first pods ripen regularly in the climate of Paris ; 

 but it is very far from being as productive there as it is in warm 

 climates, where it often continues bearing for three months. In 

 the United States a variety is grown which has the seed streaked 

 with red. 



In the United States, where the Lima Bean is one of the most 

 valued of autumn vegetables, there are some half-a-dozen varieties 

 in cultivation, both runner and dwarf. Among those in the first 

 category are the following : — 



Burpee's Willow-leaf Lima Bean. — Resembles the Sieva 

 Bean, but distinct from it in its linear-lanceolate leaf, from whence 

 its name of Willow-leaf. 



Challenger, Dreer's Improved, Potato Lima Bean. — A very 

 vigorous and fairly productive medium-early variety. The pods 

 are thicker than in the other varieties, and contain three to five 

 large rounded, swollen seeds. A very good kind. 



Extra Early Jersey Lima Bean. — Eight or ten days earlier 

 than the Lima Runner Bean, but with smaller seeds. 



King of the Garden Lima Bean. — A vigorous variety, pro- 

 ducing pods of a length rarely obtained by the other varieties, and 

 containing five or six very large seeds of excellent quality. 



' Siebert's Early Lima Bean. — Fairly early, abundant, and 

 constant producing ; the pods, of medium size, seldom contain more 



