Brockton

Pole bean, climbing to 5-6'. Seeds large, elongated, light brown with irregular darker markings. Grown by James Smith in 2021 for the Collection Documentation Project; he evaluated the variety as "very good", similar to Littleton. This accession is potentially an example of the variety of the same name which was introduced in 1884 by Aaron Low & Son, Seedsmen of Essex, Massachusetts. Low's 1891 catalog described the origin of 'Brockton Pole Bean': "As a Pole Bean for shelling purposes it is far ahead of any other sort we have ever grown. It originated in Brockton, Mass., with a veteran gardener of long experience, and is pronounced by him as the most profitable variety for his use…Although its merits are confined more strictly to a shell bean, it will be found to be well adapted to cooking when dry. All should try it." This accession was donated to SSE in 1981 by bean collector John Withee of Lynnfield, Massachusetts and the Wanigan Associates. SSE Accession # 101124