LEGUMINOUS PLANTS.— THE BEAN. 



67 



Sulphate of soda, and most other mine- 

 ral manures, can only be beneficially ap- 

 plied to land in good condition and in 

 careful hands, because if the land is poor, 

 they will have no effect whatever. The 

 stableyard manure-heap must ever be 

 regarded as furnishing the principal part 

 of the food of plants. What are called 

 special manures are only the condiments, 

 like pepper, salt, mustard, and the other 

 contents of the cruet-stand. 



Forcing. — The garden bean is not con- 

 sidered of sufficient importance to be ever 

 forced in this country ; if it were so, 

 what has been said of pease under this 

 head would be quite applicable to it. 



Taking the crop. — Beans, to be eaten in 

 proper condition, should be gathered 

 young — indeed, when of the size of a large 

 marrow-fat pea. They are gathered in 

 succession, until the eye begins to turn 

 black at the hilum or point of attachment 

 to the pod, at which period they become 

 exceedingly coarse food, flatulent, and 

 indigestible. 



Approved sorts and their qualities. — 1. Early 

 Mazagan. — From 2 to 3 feet in height ; the 

 hardest sort in cultivation, although originally 

 a native of Mazagan on the African coast ; 

 stems slender ; by no means productive, the 

 pods containing seldom more than four beans. 

 Its hardiness and precocity have secured it a 

 place in our gardens for upwards of one hun- 

 dred years. It is known as early Malta, early 

 Aldridge, Stidolph's new early, and early Brom- 

 ley. It is the Feve de Mazagan of the French. 

 The weight of an average seed is about 15 grains, 

 one pound containing 481 seeds. 



2. Marshall's early dwarf prolific. — From 1 8 

 inches to 2 feet in height. This excellent bean 

 originated about twenty years ago with Mr Mar- 

 shall, a gardener, near Kingston, Surrey. It is 

 fully a fortnight earlier than the Mazagan, much 

 more productive, producing its pods in dense 

 clusters near the ground ; plant very much 

 branched; beans larger than in the last, and 

 producing from four to five in each pod. It is 

 known as Marshall's prolific. 



3. Royal dwarf cluster. — From 10 to 14 inches 

 in height. Comparatively a new variety, the 

 history of which is not very clearly known. 

 "We suspect, from its habit, that it is an acci- 

 dental variety of dwarf habit of the last, or one 

 of taller growth than the next. It produces its 

 pods in clusters, three or four beans in each pod, 

 which are smaller than the last. It branches 

 considerably, and therefore should have not less 

 than 10 or 12 inches in the line, which is nearly 

 its proper distance between the rows. With 

 Marshall's prolific it should have a place in every 

 small garden. We grow it extensively on ac- 

 count of the delicacy and smallness of the beans 

 while young. 



4. Dwarf fan. — The smallest of all garden 

 beans, seldom so tall as the last ; pods small, 

 round, containing in general three small oblong 

 beans ; pods produced in clusters close to the 

 ground. Known also as the fan or bog, dwarf 

 cluster, or bog bean. The Feve naine hative 

 of the French. It is not in general cultiva- 

 tion, but is well suited for small gardens, yield- 

 ing a moderate crop of weil-fiavoured beans. 

 Seeds weighing from 19 to 20 grains. 



5. White blossomed. — From 3 to 4 feet high ; the 

 most delicate flavoured of all beans, but by no 

 means productive ; pods long, nearly cylindrical, 

 containing seldom more than four beans, which, 

 when ripe, are of a blackish colour. Flowers 

 white, unlike any of the family. It is known 

 also as the white-blossomed long pod. An 

 average-sized seed weighs Y2\ grains; the small- 

 est seeded of all the garden sorts. 



6. Long pod. — From 3 to 4 feet in height ; 

 pods long and narrow, containing in general 

 four beans of excellent quality. A most pro- 

 ductive variety, and generally employed for the 

 summer crops. One of the most popular of all 

 the family, and has been long in cultivation, 

 which accounts for the following synonymes. 

 Lisbon, early Lisbon, Sandwich, Windsor long 

 pod, Turkey long pod, common long pod, early 

 long pod, large long pod, hang-down long pod, 

 sword long pod, moon, Wrenches early moon. 

 To which Johnston's wonderful may, for all 

 useful purposes, be added, as it differs only in 

 the greater length of the pods, and slightly 

 flatter form of the bean. 



7. Dutch long pod. — From 3 to 4 feet high. 

 An abundant bearer ; will succeed the long pod 

 even if sown on the same day. Pods long and 

 broad, containing, on an average, from four to 

 six large flat white beans. 



8. Green long pod. — From 3 to 4 feet in height. 

 Pods long, somewhat flattened, containing in 

 general four rather small oblong beans, an excel- 

 lent bearer, and only a few days later than the 

 long pod. Esteemed on account of the fine 

 green colour of the beans, which, if gathered at 

 a proper time, retain their green colour when 

 dressed. Known also as the green Genoa and 

 green nonpareil. It is the Feve verte, Feve 

 toujours verte, of the French. The long pods 

 weigh from 23^ to 35^ grains, the lightest being 

 Child's new early long pod, and the heaviest 

 Sangster's imperial long pod. 



9. Windsor. — 3 to 4 feet high, pods short but 

 very broad, containing seldom more than two 

 beans, which are very large, flat, roundish ; 

 esteemed excellent for a summer crop on 

 account of their remaining longer fit for use 

 than any other, excepting the green Windsor. 

 Known also as Wrenche's improved Windsor, 

 new Windsor, Kentish Windsor, broad Windsor, 

 Taylor's Windsor, Taylor's large Windsor, Tay- 

 lor's improved new Windsor, Mumford, and 

 small Spanish. It is the Feve de Windsor of 

 the French. Weight of seed, 47 grains (or a of 

 an ounce nearly), being the heaviest seeded of all 

 beans. 



10 Green Windsor. — Very much resembling 

 the last, only the beans remain green after they 

 are ripe, and hence are thrust into the market 



