THE SOLOMON ISLANDS GUADA BEAN.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10690, 9 August 1912, Page 5

THE SOLOMON ISLANDS GUADA BEAN.

[To The Editor.:

Sir, —Having grown the above "with most satisfactory results for tlie past year, I would fool greatly obliged if yon would publish the following description. My attention war first colled' to this subject by reading this wiragrnph in one of our papers, giving a dcscrintion of these Islands: "On the kitchen table is an enormous bean, which arrests my attention, called the 'Guada.' It is seven feet long, and is intended for our host's family dinner to-night, ft would amply provide sufficient vegetables for one meal for half a dozen hungry people." After some trouble, 7 was successful in procuring samo seed, and I am now greatly pleased that T did so. This vine grows from 15 to 20 feet long, and within a few months from the time of planting will yield a heavy crop of,beans from 3 lo 6 feet long. The leaves are larsre and lobed, and the flowers are white, frinsed with filaments, and scented. Whe n overripe the pods assume various colours —■ orange red. and green, with white stripes. A writer, cjni to recently, says in *ne of our loci pai ers. "1 can testify value as a table Tr egetable. Mr Harrison rave mo one beans months at'o. From hie =inglo seed I have grown about of beans from the one vine, which is growing and bearing heavily yet. Single beans have measured up to sft 4in, and to 21b in weight, and we have frequently served up half a bean for a meal. It is usual to expect coarse flesh and rank flavour in such bulky vegetables, but such is not the case wit.li the Guada. Tf taken before the beans have quite set in the pod, sliced and cooked like French beans and served with sauce, it is quite a luxury in the bean line." Tn appearance the Guada resembles a long narrow cucumber. rather than a bean. When youne: the fruit should serve as a good sulvstitutp for cucumbers, when pickled. This vegetable should prove a most welcome and prolific adjunct to tho garden, more especially in hot dry climates, where vegetables are frequently scarce and difficult to cultivate. —I am, etc., B. HARTMSOX. Cudfrera Park, Burringbar P. 0., N.S.W.