352 



LEGUMINOS^. CLXXXVIII. Phaseolus. 



the drought of summer it is advisable to accelerate the germi- sun to dry and harden the seed, which should be afterwards 

 nation of the seed, by laying it in damp mould till it begins to cleared out of the husks, bagged up, and housed. 



sprout, or by soaking it in soft water for 6 or 8 hours previous 

 to sowing, and by watering the drills to receive them. Crops 



Forcing the kidney -hean. It is often partially forced in hot* 

 houses or frames, with a view to its fruiting in the open garden; 



sown after the middle of July should be favoured in situation, and supplies of green pods are also kept up throughout the 



or the time of their bearing will be much shortened by the de- winter and spring months, by forcing in hot-houses and pits. 



^ The kidney-bean may be successfully forced in pits, hot-houses 



cession of young green pods will he produced from June and July or forcing-houses, and hot-beds. The more general mode is 



till October. As the plants of the different crops advance in to force 



cllne of summer. From this course of sowings, a regular suc- 



^rowth, occasionally hoe and stir the ground between the rows 



Cut down all weeds as they spring. Draw some earth to the 



stems of the plants as they rise in height, which will strengthen 



and forward them considerably. When advanced to full bearing, 

 i 



in pine-stoves; the same heat which suits the pine* 

 apple suits the kidney-beany which is a native of India. Nicol 



flued 



prefers 



pit 



such as that used for nursing pine-apple 

 plants; and Abercrombie says, " Where there are not hot* 

 houses, or where kidney-beans are to be raised in quantities for 



it is advisable to gather the pods in moderate, young, or medium the market, the most economical and successful mode will be 



growth. 



of runners, or varieties of P. mullifl 



The runners 



may be sown in a small portion towards the end of April, if the 

 weather is tolerably warm and dry ; but as the seeds of the run^ 

 ners are rather more tender than those of the dwarf kidney-beans^ 

 they are more liable to rot in the ground by wet or cold, especially 

 those of i\\e scarlet i3iX\A white runners, therefore the beginning or 



found a flued pit, with rather a strong bottom heat, and coverii^ 

 the bed with light vegetable mould." 



Sorts. Abercrombie recommends the Early -speckled, Early* 



Nicol savs the 



negro, and Dun-coloured drvarfs, 

 dwarf is the best sort. 



says 



Speckled' 



Sow in flat boxes or pans filled with fine light 

 earth, and cover the seed the depth of an inch. Let them be 



Sowing. 



middle of May will be time enough to sow a considerable crop, placed in a stove or hot-bed, and have moderate supplies of 



and you may sow a full crop about the beginning of June. Allot 

 principally the scarlet and large white runners. Some Dutch^ 

 runners are very eligible as a secondary crop. The first crops 

 should have the assistance of a south wall. Intermediate crops 

 may be sown in any open compartment, or against any fence, not 

 looking north. The latest sown will continue bearing the longer 

 under a good aspect and shelter. In sowing, draw drills about 

 '^ or 2 inches deep. Let parallel rows be at least 4 feet 



asunder, to admit in the intervals tall sticks or poles for the plant the seeds and begin to force in August." 



water, and they will be fit to transplant when about 3 inches m 

 height. Plant them in rows across the bed of the pit, 15 

 inches apart and 3 inches distant in the line. 



Culture. Water after planting, and afterwards as required; 

 give abundance of air every fine day, and earth up the plants as 

 they advance in growth, in order to give them strength. . 



Time of beginning to force. M'Phail says, " if you wish to 



endeavour to have kidney-beans green all the year, you should 



Abercrombie 



observes, " some forcers, quite in opposition to the season, raise 

 kidney-beans \n Augn^t, and thence to the 2 1st of December, 

 which day may be regarded as the boundary between late and 



plants to climb upon. Place the beans in the drills 4 inches 



apart, and earth them in evenly, the depth of the drills. A row 



contiguous to a fence or building may ascend upon lines. Some 



may be sown in a single row along a border, or on each side of early forcing." 



a walk ; and have the support of a slight trellis of laths and Temperature, The heat by fire at night need not exceed 50J, 



lines, or poles may be placed at certain distances, having a according to Nicol, but Abercrombie recommends 60° for the 



rope drawn along their tops, having lines suspended from it, 



or they might be arched over with similar materials, so as to 



form a shady walk or bower. In cold wet seasons, or when 



requisite to have a few plants more forward than the general 



crop, some scarlet-runners may be sown in April, either in 



a slight hot-bed, or in pots under frames or hand-glasses, 



minimum, and 75** for the maximum. 



Successional supplies^ are to be obtained by sowing emy 

 form^ a shady walk or bower. In cold wet seasons, or when month or 6 weeks, for which purpose the pits may be divjaed, 



in a temporary way, by fitting a board neatly under the mi 

 rafter. By this means the one half of the pit may be kepi 

 cooler by matting or not matting, or by the admission of nio 

 or less air : this will protract the growth of the beans more i 



to raise and forward the plants till 3 or 3 inches high, then, 

 at the end of May, transplant them into a garden. As the 

 plants in the open ground advance from 3 to 6 inches in 

 growth, hoe up some earth to the stems, cutting down all weeds 

 at the same time, and when they begin to send forth runners, 



one part than the other. 



Forcing kidney-beans in a hot-house. 



«« The most early frui^ 

 perfection is obtained by culture in a stove, sowing 

 mid-winter till the end of March. Sow in pots or oWo"g^^^ 



in 



place suitable supports to each, such as are mentioned above, containing a mixture of light fresh earth and vegetable mou! . 



and conduct the tendrils to the sticks or lines, turning the stems depositing the seeds either in a trian<mlar or quincunx oroe , 



in a contrary direction to the sun. The ascending stems will and full an inch deep. If the prants°are to fruit where soffj^ 



soon come into flower,' podding at the joints in long succession. ' " " ' •- » - — -» ^^ "* 



They are so prolific that the returns, from 3 sowings made in 

 May, June, and July, will last from July till October. 



the cradles should be 10 inches deep; but if tliey are to 

 transplanted, which admits a greater number in the sanie sjw^^ 

 the seed-pots or boxes may be shallow. Do not fill the era 



Taking the crop. Gather the pods, both from the dwarfs and with mould at first, to allow of gradually earthing up. 



runners, while they are young, fleshy, brittle, and tender, for 

 then are they in highest perfection for the table ; and the plants 

 will bear more fully, and last longer in fruit, under a course of 

 clean gathering, not leaving any superabundant pods to grow old. 

 To save seed. Either sow a portion for that object, or leave 

 rows wholly ungathered of the main crops, or preserve a suffi- 

 ciency of good pods promiscuously. The beans saved should 

 be the first fruits of a crop sown at a period which throws the 

 entire course of growth into the finest part of summer. Let 

 them hang upon the stalks till they are fully ripe, till Aufrust or 



September ; then let the haulm be pulled up and nlacefl^Jn tKo 



Wbeo 



the beans have germinated, sprinkle the earth with water; ^^^^ 

 the plants have risen, give moderate waterings every other ,^ 

 the last crops may want water everyday. ^P*^" . / u^use. 

 leaves with water, warmed by standing some time m tlie ^^^ 



fruiting when 2 or 3 inches hvjlu 



to 



Those plants raised in shallow pans should be transplanteu 

 - " - ! It is sometimes propej .^ 



stop luxuriant runners* l^hese ^incidental crops nl«y »^^^ ^^^ 

 rows on the flues, or on shelves ; but take care that they ^^ 

 shade the pines and other principal plants. For successio 

 •«very fortnightor 3 weeks." 

 Insects. 



Nicol observes 



— Abercrombie. , french 



*' that the thrips often attack i-^ 



