The Field and Garden Vegetables of America Part 92

Stem from three to five feet high; flowers variable in color; the ripe seeds are from a half to five-eighths of an inch in length by three-eighths in breadth, generally slightly compressed on the sides, and frequently a little hollowed or flattened at the end, of a whitish or light-brownish color, occasionally interspersed with darker blotches, particularly towards the extremities; eye black; average weight per bushel sixty-two pounds.

An agricultural sort, generally cultivated in rows, but sometimes sown broadcast. It is not adapted to the climate of the United States, though extensively and profitably grown in England and Scotland.

JOHNSON'S WONDERFUL. _Law._

An improved variety of the Broad Windsor, recently introduced, and apparently of excellent quality. The pods are long, and contain six or eight beans, which are similar in size and form to the Windsor.

LONG-PODDED. _Law._

Lisbon. Hang-down Long Pod. Early Long Pod. Sandwich. Turkey Long Pod.

Sword Long Pod.

Stems from three to five feet high; pods six to seven inches long, an inch and a fourth broad, rather pendulous, and containing four or five whitish, somewhat oblong, flattened seeds, about an inch in length, and five-eighths of an inch in breadth.

The variety has been long in cultivation, is remarkably productive, and one of the most esteemed of the English Beans. It is about a week later than the Early Mazagan.

MARSHALL'S EARLY DWARF PROLIFIC. _M'Int._

Plant from eighteen inches to two feet high, separating into numerous branches. It resembles the Early Mazagan; but is two weeks earlier, and much more productive. The pods are produced in cl.u.s.ters near the ground, and contain four or five seeds, which are larger than those of the last named.

RED OR SCARLET BLOSSOMED.

Stem three or four feet high, separating near the ground into four branches; flowers generally bright-red, approaching scarlet, but varying from pale to purplish-red and blackish-purple, and sometimes to nearly jet-black; the pods, which differ from all other varieties in their dark, rusty-brown color, are erect, four inches long, nearly an inch broad, and contain three and sometimes four seeds.

The variety is remarkably hardy and productive; but less esteemed than many others, on account of its dark color. It deserves cultivation as an ornamental plant.

RED WINDSOR. _Law._ _M'Int._

Scarlet Windsor. Dark-red.

This variety resembles the Violet or Purple; growing about four feet high. The pods are narrower than those of the Broad Windsor, and contain about the same number of seeds: in the green state, these are darker than those of the Violet, but change to scarlet when fully grown, and to deep-red when ripe.

The Red Windsor is late, but prolific, and of good quality. It is, however, little cultivated, on account of its dark and unattractive appearance. The seed weighs about thirty-one grains.

ROYAL DWARF Cl.u.s.tER. _M'Int._

A very Dwarf, and comparatively new variety; growing only twelve or fourteen inches high. It produces its pods in cl.u.s.ters, three or four beans in each pod, which are smaller than Marshall's Early Prolific. On account of its branching habit, it should not have less than ten or twelve inches in the line, which is nearly its proper distance between the rows. Much esteemed for the delicacy and smallness of the beans while young, and considered one of the best of the early Dwarf sorts.

TOKER. _Law._

Large Toker.

Height about five feet; pods rather long, and very broad, containing three or four beans of a whitish color,--differing from the Common Windsor in being of an elongated, oval form.

This is a medium late sort, and an excellent bearer, but considered somewhat coa.r.s.e, and therefore not so much esteemed as the Windsor. The ripe seed weighs thirty-six grains.

VIOLET OR PURPLE.

Violette.

Stem about four feet high, with two or three ramifications; flowers white; pods generally erect, sometimes at right angles, a little curved, four inches or upwards in length, an inch and a fourth in width, four-fifths of an inch thick, containing two and sometimes three seeds.

When ripe, the beans are large, not regular in form, rather thin, of a violet-red color, changing by age to a mahogany-red; the size and shape being intermediate between the Long Pod and Broad Windsor.

The variety is of good quality, and productive; but less desirable than many other sorts, on account of its dark color.

WHITE-BLOSSOMED LONG POD. _Law._

The flowers of this sort differ from all others in being pure white; having no spots on the large upper petal, or on the wings or smaller side petals. It is liable to degenerate; but may easily be distinguished, when in flower, by the above characters. Stem about four feet high; pods long, nearly cylindrical, and slightly pendulous, generally containing four and sometimes five seeds, which are black or blackish-brown, three-fourths of an inch long, and half an inch broad.

It is a moderate bearer, and of excellent quality; but not used in an advanced state, on account of its color. The variety possesses the singular anomaly of having the whitest flowers and the darkest seeds of any of the English Beans. The seed weighs about twelve grains.

WINDSOR.

White Broad Windsor. Taylor's Large Windsor. Kentish Windsor. Mumford.

Wrench's Improved Windsor.

Stem about four feet high; flowers white; pods generally horizontal or inclined, five inches long, an inch and a fourth wide, seven-eighths of an inch thick, and containing two or three beans; seeds large, yellowish, of a flat, circular form, an inch broad, but varying in size according to soil, culture, and season. A quart contains from two hundred and fifty to two hundred and seventy-five seeds.

This familiar sort is much esteemed and extensively cultivated. It is considered the earliest of the late Garden varieties; and excellent as a summer bean, on account of its remaining longer fit for use than any other, with the exception of the Green Windsor. It is a sure bearer; and, as the pods are produced in succession, pluckings may be made from day to day for many weeks.

The seeds are the heaviest of all the English Beans; nine well-grown specimens weighing an ounce.

LENTIL. _Law._

Ervum lens.

A hardy, annual plant, with an erect, angular, branching stem a foot and a half high. The leaves are winged, with about six pairs of narrow leaflets, and terminate in a divided tendril, or clasper; the flowers are small, numerous, and generally produced in pairs; the pods are somewhat quadrangular, flattened, usually in pairs, and enclose one or two round, lens-like seeds, the size and color varying in the different varieties,--about four hundred and fifty are contained in an ounce, and their power of germination is retained three years.

_Cultivation._--"The soil best adapted for the Lentil is that of a dry, light, calcareous, sandy nature."

When cultivated as green food for stock, it should be sown broadcast; but, if grown for ripe seeds, it should be sown in drills,--the last of April or beginning of May being the most suitable season for sowing.

_Use._--"The Lentil is a legume of the greatest antiquity, and was much esteemed in the days of the patriarchs. In Egypt and Syria, the seeds are parched, and sold in shops; being considered by the natives as excellent food for those making long journeys. In France, Germany, Holland, and other countries of Europe, it is grown to a considerable extent, both for its seeds and haum. The former are used in various ways, but princ.i.p.ally, when ripe, in soups, as split pease. When given as green food to stock, it should be cut when the first pods are nearly full grown."

_Varieties._--