164 VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



Annual. Ihe common beans in this country are natives of 

 the warmer parts of South America. They are sometimes re- 

 ferred to as kidney or French beans (P. vulgaris). Besides 



these, the Lima beans 

 (P. lunatus) are culti- 

 vated to a limited ex- 

 tent. The common broad 

 bean of Europe is an 

 entirely different vege- 

 table from the kinds 

 generally grown here 

 and is not sufficiently 

 prolific in this section 

 to make it worthy of 

 cultivation. There are 

 many varieties of beans, 

 and the varieties of each 

 species readily cross 

 together, the flowers 

 being especially adapt- 

 ed to crossing. They 

 vary from one another 

 in many particulars; some are low, bushy and erect, while others 

 are twining and have stems that grow ten or more feet in a season. 



There are many gradations between these extremes, as well 

 as in size, color and shape of seed and plant. The twining 

 stem kinds always twine from right to left around any support 

 they can lay hold of. Horticulturally, beans are divided into the 

 bush and pole varieties. Under the first class are included all 

 the field varieties that are grown to be used as shelled beans and 

 some snap and string beans. They have stout, erect or slightly 

 running stems. Under pole beans are classed all the kinds 

 that have twining stems and which are benefited by having sup- 

 port of some kind. There are, however, dwarf bunch beans hav- 

 ing the same general features as the pole kinds except the tall 

 stem. While this division is by no means distinct, yet the 

 methoflG :;f cultivation adapted to each growth are different. All 



Figure 79. — Bush Bean. 



