DWARF HORTICULTURAL.

Variegated Dwarf Prague.

Stem about sixteen inches high; plant of vigorous, branching habit; flowers purple; pods five inches long, green while young, but changing to yellow, marbled and streaked with brilliant rose-red, when sufficiently advanced for sh.e.l.ling in their green state. At maturity, the clear, pale-yellow is changed to brownish-white, and the bright-red variegations are either entirely obliterated, or changed to dull, dead purple. If well formed, the pods contain five (rarely six) seeds.

It is a medium or half-early sort; and, if planted as soon as the weather becomes favorable, will blossom in seven weeks, produce pods for the table in about eight weeks, and ripen in ninety-five or a hundred days. Planted and grown in summer weather, the variety will produce green pods in seven weeks, and ripen in ninety days.

The ripe seeds resemble those of the running variety in form and color; but they are smaller, a little more slender, and usually flattened slightly at the sides. When pure, they are egg-shaped; and a much compressed or a longer and more slender form is indicative of degeneracy. Fourteen hundred beans are contained in a quart; and this quant.i.ty of seed will be sufficient for planting a row of a hundred and seventy-five feet, or a hundred and forty hills.

The Dwarf Horticultural Bean is quite productive, and the young pods are tender and of good quality. It is, however, not so generally cultivated for its young pods as for its seeds, which are much esteemed for their mild flavor and farinaceous quality. For sh.e.l.ling in the green state, it is one of the best of the Dwarfs, and deserves cultivation.

DWARF SABRE.

Dwarf Case-knife. Dwarf Cimeter.

A half-dwarf, French variety, two and a half to three feet high. As the running shoots are quite slender, and usually decay before the crop matures, it is always cultivated as other Dwarf sorts. Foliage large, wrinkled, and blistered; the flowers are white; the pods are very large, seven to eight inches long, and an inch in width, often irregular and distorted, green while young, paler as the season of maturity approaches, brownish-white when ripe, and contain seven or eight seeds.

The ripe bean is white, kidney-shaped, flattened, often twisted or contorted, three-fourths of an inch in length, and three-eighths of an inch in width: about twelve hundred are contained in a quart. As the variety is a vigorous grower, and occupies much s.p.a.ce, this quant.i.ty of seed will plant a row of two hundred feet, or two hundred and twenty-five hills.

Season intermediate. The plants blossom in seven weeks, produce young pods in about eight weeks, pods for sh.e.l.ling in their green state in eleven or twelve weeks, and ripen in ninety-seven days, from the time of sowing. If cultivated for its green pods, the seeds may be planted to the middle of July.

The Dwarf Sabre is one of the most productive of all varieties; yielding its long, broad pods in great profusion. From the spreading, rec.u.mbent character of the plants, the pods often rest or lie upon the surface of the ground; and, being unusually thin and delicate, the crop often suffers to a considerable extent from the effects of rain and dampness in unfavorable seasons.

The young pods are remarkable for their tender and succulent character; and the beans, both in a green and dried state, are mild and well flavored. It is hardy, productive, of good quality, and recommended for cultivation.

DWARF SOISSONS.

A half-dwarf, French bean, similar in habit to the Dwarf Sabre. While young, the plants produce slender runners, two feet or more in length; but, as they are generally of short duration, the variety is cultivated as a Common Dwarf. The flowers are white; pods six inches long, pale-green at first, cream-yellow when sufficiently advanced for sh.e.l.ling, dull cream-white when fully ripe, and contain five, and sometimes six, beans.

The variety is comparatively early. Plants, from seeds sown in spring, will blossom in six weeks, produce pods for use in seven weeks, and ripen in ninety days. If planted and grown in the summer months, the crop will be ready for harvesting in eleven weeks; and sowings for the ripe seeds may be made till the beginning of July.

Seeds white, kidney-shaped, flattened, often bent or distorted, five-eighths of an inch long, three-eighths of an inch wide, and a fourth of an inch thick: fifteen hundred are contained in a quart, and will plant a drill two hundred and twenty-five feet in length, or about two hundred hills.

The variety is productive, and the young pods are of fair quality; the seeds are excellent, whether used green or ripe; the skin is thin; and they are much esteemed for their peculiar whiteness, and delicacy of flavor.

EARLY CHINA.

China. Red-eyed China.

Plant fifteen inches high, with yellowish-green, wrinkled foliage, and white flowers; the pods are five inches long, green and straight while young, yellowish-green as they approach maturity, yellow when fully ripe, and contain five (rarely six) beans.

The ripe seeds are white, colored and spotted about the eye with purplish-red, oblong, nearly cylindrical at the centre, rounded at the ends, six-tenths of an inch long, and three-eighths of an inch thick: sixteen hundred and fifty measure a quart, and will plant two hundred feet of drill, or two hundred hills.

If planted early in the season, the variety will blossom in six weeks, afford young pods for use in seven weeks, green beans in ten weeks, and ripen in eighty-five days. When planted and grown in summer, the crop will ripen in eleven weeks; and plants from seeds sown as late as the first of August will generally afford an abundant supply of tender pods from the middle to the close of September.

The Early China is very generally disseminated, and is one of the most popular of the Dwarf varieties. It is hardy and productive; but the young pods, though succulent and tender, are inferior to those of some other varieties. The seeds, green or ripe, are thin-skinned, mealy, and mild flavored.

EARLY RACHEL.

A low-growing, branching variety, twelve to fifteen inches high; flowers white; the pods are five inches and a half long, green while young, becoming paler or greenish-yellow as they approach maturity, cream-white when ripe, and contain five seeds.

Planted early in the season, the variety will blossom in about seven weeks; and, in eight weeks, the young pods will be fit for use. Pods for sh.e.l.ling may be plucked in ten weeks, and the crop will ripen in eighty days. For the green pods, the seeds may be planted till the middle or twentieth of July.

The ripe seed is yellowish-brown, white at one of the ends, kidney-shaped, often abruptly shortened, five-eighths of an inch long, and a fourth of an inch thick: nearly two thousand are contained in a quart.

The Early Rachel is hardy, and moderately productive, and, as an early string-bean, may be desirable; but as a sh.e.l.l-bean, green or dry, it is of little value. In common with many other early sorts cultivated as string-beans, the pods, though crisp and tender at first, soon become too tough and parchment-like for use. In general, the pods of the later sorts remain crisp and tender a much longer period than those of the earlier descriptions.

EARLY VALENTINE.

Valentine.

Plant about sixteen inches high, with small, yellowish-green leaves and white flowers; the pods are comparatively short, usually four and a half or five inches long, sickle-shaped, almost cylindrical, green while young, yellow when ripe, and contain five seeds.

The variety is productive, and quite early, though not one of the earliest. When sown at the commencement of the season, the plants will blossom in six weeks, produce pods for use in about seven weeks, and ripen in thirteen weeks, or ninety days, from the time of planting. If planted after the beginning of summer weather, pods may be gathered for the table in fifty days, and the beans will ripen in eleven weeks.

The beans, when ripe, are of a pale-pink color, marbled or variegated with rose-red, becoming duller and browner by age, oblong, nearly straight, sometimes distorted and irregular as if pressed out of their natural shape, often more or less shortened at the ends, five-eighths of an inch long, three-eighths of an inch wide, and about the same in thickness. A quart will contain eighteen or nineteen hundred seeds; which will be sufficient for a hundred and seventy-five hills, or for a drill, or row, of two hundred or two hundred and twenty-five feet.

The Early Valentine is generally cultivated for its tender and very fleshy pods, which remain long on the plants without becoming hard and tough. They make an excellent, brittle pickle; and, when cooked, are equal to those of any other Dwarf variety. The sh.e.l.led-beans, either in their green or ripe state, are little esteemed.

The variety has long been grown in England and other parts of Europe, and is common to gardens in almost every section of the United States.

GOLDEN CRANBERRY.

Canadian. Round American Kidney.

Height about sixteen inches; flowers purple; the pods are five inches and a half long, five-eighths of an inch broad, somewhat irregular in form, yellow when ripe, and contain five seeds.

Season intermediate. Early plantings will blossom in seven weeks, yield pods for the table in eight weeks, and ripen in ninety days.

The ripe seeds are pale greenish-yellow, with an olive-green line encircling the eye; roundish-ovoid, three-eighths of an inch long, and nearly the same in thickness. A quart contains nearly eighteen hundred seeds, and will plant a row, or drill, of two hundred feet, or two hundred and twenty-five hills.

As a string-bean, or for sh.e.l.ling in the green state, it is inferior to many other varieties, and is little cultivated for use in these forms; but as a variety for baking, or for cooking in any form when ripe, it is much esteemed, and recommended for cultivation.

Hardy and productive.

LONG YELLOW SIX-WEEKS.

Six-weeks. Yellow Six-weeks. Yellow Flageolet. _Vil._

The plants of this familiar variety are of vigorous, branching habit, and from fourteen to sixteen inches high; the flowers are pale-purple; the pods are five inches long, six-tenths of an inch broad, often curved or sickle-shaped, green at first, gradually becoming paler, cream-yellow when ripe, and contain five (rarely six) beans.

It is one of the earliest of the Dwarf varieties. Spring plantings will blossom in six weeks, produce pods for the table in seven weeks, and ripen in eighty-seven days. Summer plantings will afford pods for the table in about six weeks, and ripen in sixty-three days. When planted as late in the season as the last of July or first of August, the variety will afford an abundant supply of tender pods from the middle to the last of September.