The Pole Lima Beans. 365 



II. Remarks on the Growing of Lima Beans. 



J. MeiJiods for New York. 



The Lima beans are amongst tlie most clelicions of all our gar- 

 den vegetables. There are no ])eans grown \w tliis climate which 

 approach them in richness. They are excellent either w^hen nsed 

 green as " shelled " beans, or when used ripe and dry during the 

 winter season. The merits of the green or shelled Limas are 

 nearly evei'^' where knowm and appreciated, but comparatively few 

 people seem to understand that the ripe beans are just as excel- 

 lent in the winter time as the green beans are in the summer. At 

 the present time, the writer is using the ripe Lima beans in the 

 same way that the common field beans are cooked for the table, 

 and they are the most satisfactory of any beans which can be served. 

 These beans may be shelled in the fall after the pods are fully ripe, 

 ■or they may be put away in the attic or other dry room in the pod 

 and shelled as occasion requires. If they are stored in the pod 

 the only caution is that these pods should be thoroughly dried and 

 cured. 



The Lima beans are natives of warm countries. The large flat 

 Limas are perennials, or at least plur-annuals, in their native coun 

 tries. They therefore require a loniJ^ season, and one who expects, 

 to grow them in the north should endeavor in every way to shorten 

 the period of growth. This may be done, in the first place, by 

 planting the earlier varieties ; and, in the second place, by exercising 

 great care in the selection of soil and in giving particular attention 

 to cultivation. Light and so-called " quick " soils are best. Soils 

 which are naturally sandy and loose, but which have been enriched in 

 previous years by the addition of manure,are excellent for Lima beans, 

 especially if they have a w^arm exposure. The soil should also be 

 dry. Coarse, raw manure should be avoided on Lima beans, because 

 it tends to make too rank and too late growth. If any fertilizer is 

 applied the year in which the beans are planted, it should be such 

 as will become available very quickly and therefore tend to hasten 

 the maturity of the crop. We prefer, therefore, to use some of the 

 concentrated fertilizers, especially those which are rich in potash 

 and phosphoric acid, and avoid those which contain very much 

 nitrogen. If nitrogenous fertilizers are used at all, they should be 

 applied in comparatively small amount and be of such kind that 

 they will give up their fertility early in the season. If ordinary 



