This bean variety was discovered as a cross in the bean garden of Ernest B. Dana back in the 1970's. He grew it and selected the original seed over a couple of growings seasons to stablize it into a genuine new variety after he discovered the bean. Mr. Dana lived in Etna, New Hampshire. One of the parents of Ernie's Big Eye is Jacob's Cattle. I don't believe that Mr. Dana ever knew what the other crossing variety was. You will notice that Ernie's Big Eye displays are larger area of white coloration on the seed than does Jacob's Cattle. Ernest B. Dana and myself were both members of The Seed Savers Exchange, and also John Withee's Wanigan Associates, and we corresponded frequently.
Ernie's Big Eye
5 comments:
Thanks BlueJay77 - what a wonderful bit of history.
This bean variety was discovered as a cross in the bean garden of Ernest B. Dana back in the 1970's. He grew it and selected the original seed over a couple of growings seasons to stablize it into a genuine new variety after he discovered the bean. Mr. Dana lived in Etna, New Hampshire. One of the parents of Ernie's Big Eye is Jacob's Cattle. I don't believe that Mr. Dana ever knew what the other crossing variety was. You will notice that Ernie's Big Eye displays are larger area of white coloration on the seed than does Jacob's Cattle. Ernest B. Dana and myself were both members of The Seed Savers Exchange, and also John Withee's Wanigan Associates, and we corresponded frequently.
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