293. Keys And Descriptions

The twelfth annual report of the Missouri Botanical Garden, pp. 81-165 (also published in separate pamphlet form under the title of "Garden Beans"), and Bulletin No. 260 of the Cornell Experiment Station, give comprehensive keys to cultivated varieties and complete botanical descriptions of varieties grown in the United States.

294. Varieties Of Dwarf Wax-Podded Beans

Burpee Kidney

Burpee Kidney was introduced in 1906, and is regarded one of the most valuable varieties.

German Black Wax

German Black Wax, also known as Saddle-back, Saddleback Wax and by other synonyms, is planted extensively.

Wardwell Kidney Wax

Wardwell Kidney Wax, introduced 25 years ago, is a large flat-podded variety, which is popular on many markets. The pods are very attractive.

Pencil-Pod Black Wax

Pencil-Pod Black Wax, the best of the black wax group, is desirable for home use or for market.

Improved Golden Wax

Improved Golden Wax is grown extensively and is sold under a dozen or more names, but often referred to as the Rust-Proof Golden Wax.

295. Varieties Of Dwarf Or Green-Podded Beans

Black Valentine

Black Valentine is extensively grown and is especially popular in the South. It closely resembles Red Valentine, but is more stringy and fibrous.

Burpee Stringless

Burpee Stringless is said to be listed by at least 140 seedsmen. C. D. Jarvis says (Cornell Bulletin 260, p. 197) concerning it: "One of the most popular and widely grown varieties. Compared with Giant Stringless, it has a smaller pod, is less depressed between beans and slightly darker in color. Burpee Stringless makes up in quality for that which it lacks in appearance. It is slightly susceptible to disease, but otherwise hardy. Because of its reliability, productiveness and good quality it is one of the best both for home use and for market".

Red Valentine

Red Valentine is the most extensively grown green-podded variety. The pods are produced in large clusters on erect plants. It is very prolific and reliable and an excellent shipper; used extensively for canning and pickling and for general commercial purposes.

Refugee

Refugee is an old reliable variety, hardy, vigorous and productive, and used largely for canning.

296. Varieties Of Green Shell Beans

Goddard

Goddard is regarded the best green shell bean of the class known as the "dwarf horticultural." It is an excellent midseason variety.

Dwarf Horticultural

Dwarf Horticultural is better known than Goddard, but the latter is superior to it in every particular.

297. Varieties Of Wax-Podded Pole Beans

Golden Carmine

Golden Carmine, the best of the pole wax-podded varieties, originated in 1904, and is not so well known as older varieties. The pods are large and equally valuable for snap or green shell purposes and desirable for home use or for market.

Golden Cluster

Golden Cluster is better known than Golden Carmine, but is regarded as inferior.

298. Varieties Of Green-Podded Pole Beans

Creaseback

Creaseback is the best early pole bean for snap purposes. It is moderately productive, fleshy, very brittle and of fair quality.

Kentucky Wonder

Kentucky Wonder is the most extensively grown green-podded pole variety, although C. D. Jarvis (Cornell Station, Bul. 260, p. 225) states, "It is not sufficiently productive, attractive nor resistant to be generally recommended".

Lazy Wife

Lazy Wife, known in many localities as White Cranberry, is valued for its stringless pods of high quality. It is an excellent general purpose late variety.

299. Varieties Of Pole Lima Beans

Leviathan

Leviathan is one of the best varieties of pole limas. It is early and desirable for home use and market.

Ideal

Ideal is a large-seeded lima, vigorous, a good climber and quite productive.

King Of The Garden

King Of The Garden is largely grown and a valuable general-purpose lima.

300. Varieties Of Bush Limas

There are two classes of limas; namely, the small (Phaseolus lunatas) and the large (P. lunatas macrocarpus). There are pole and bush representatives of each class.

Henderson

Henderson is the best known and most widely cultivated bush or dwarf variety of the small type.

Fordhook

Fordhook is the most popular variety of the large bush limas. Other varieties of this class are Burpee, Dreer or Kumerle, Wonder and Burpee Improved. Of this class, Burpee was the first variety introduced. It originated with Mr. Asa Palmer, of Kennett Square, Pa. Bush beans are now generally grown where soil and climatic conditions are suitable. A long and warm season is required for full success.

301. Varieties Of Field Beans

There are four distinct types of field beans. Professor John W. Gilmore has prepared the following key to the group:

Kidney

Kidney, seed 1.5 centimeters or more in length, more or less reniform; ratio—length, width, thickness, 1-.4869-•3731.

Marrow

Marrow, seed between 1 and 1.5 centimeters in length. Thickness exceeding half the length, 1-.6537-.6029.

Medium

Medium, seed 1 to 1.2 centimeters in length. Thickness less than half the length, 1-.678-.4975.

Pea

Pea, seed .8 centimeters or less in length, not reniform, 1-.7467-.6096.

C. D. Irish ("American Varieties of Beans," p. 163) recommends the following varieties of the field class for shell purposes: Of the kidney type, White Kidney, Prolific Pickler and Red Kidney; of the Marrow type, Vine-less Marrow, White Marrow, Aroostook and China Red Eye; of the Medium type, Burlingame; of the Pea type, Navy and Snowflake. The pea and medium types are grown the most extensively; their earliness is a great advantage when the crop is to be followed by wheat.

302. Climatic Requirements

Probably the bean is more widely distributed than any other cultivated vegetable. It is grown in nearly all parts of the world. In tropical countries certain species grow luxuriantly and produce abundantly, while the coldest agricultural sections grow certain hardy species or varieties with success.