THE FLOEAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 327 



one set of directions will be sufficient. In the first place, the seed 

 can be sown in the pots in which the plants are to be fruited, or in 

 small pots and then shifted in the large ones, or in a shallow box or 

 seed-pan, and then after they are nicely up, transplanted into the 

 large pots. The first way is the least trouble, but the others are best 

 where the space is limited, as the plants can be grown in less room 

 through the early stages of their existence. Nine-inch pots are the 

 most convenient size, for they afi'ord room for the beans to grow, 

 and at the same time are not too large to handle comfortably. A 

 few large pieces of crocks should be placed in the bottom, over them 

 a layer of leaf-mould or rotten dung, and then filled up with a 

 compost consisting of equal parts turfy loam, leaf- mould, and rotten 

 dung. I generally sow eight seeds in each pot, and thin out the 

 three weakest directly they are large enough to see which are the 

 best. Five plants in each pot are quite sufficient. "When sown in 

 five-inch pots, they should be shitted soon after the first pair of 

 rough leaves are developed, and potted rather firmly, and the same 

 stage should be fixed upon for transplanting them from the seed-pan. 

 The seed should not be sown in the pans or boxes too thickly, and 

 if they are filled entirely with leaf-mould, the young plants can 

 be removed with but little trouble, and without their receiving any 

 material check. Ko matter which way the seed is sown, the pots, 

 etc., should be placed near the glass until after the first pair of rough 

 leaves have made their appearance. To keep them short on their legs, 

 too much water must not be applied at any time, more especially 

 before the pots are full of roots, and after then, there will not be 

 much fear of that being done. On no account must the plants 

 sufter for the want of this element, and after they are in bearing 

 weak manure-water should be used. The syringe should be put 

 into use once or twice a day : in dull weather once will be enough ; 

 but in bright and frosty weather, when a large amount of fire-heat 

 has to be used to keep up the temperature, not less than twice will 

 be necessary. The plants must be supported to prevent their falling 

 about, and I find small twiggy sticks, cut like miniature pea-sticks, 

 the most suitable, as they keep them together without crowding. 

 After the whole of the crop is gathered, a little sulphur should be 

 burnt in the house, if it can be done without the fumes getting into 

 those adjoining, to destroy every trace of insect life. It is equally 

 destructive to plant life ; therefore, if there is the slightest danger of 

 the fumes reaching any plants in the other houses, by no means use 

 sulphur, but give the house a good fumigating with tobacco smoke. 

 The late crops, which come into bearing through March and April, I 

 plant out in shallow beds on each side of the house, and there can 

 be no mistake but what I get much finer crops than from those grown 

 in pots. -The same kind of soil is used. for the beds as the pots, and 

 I make the former about a foot in depth. After the beans are done 

 with, the houses are cleared out, and filled with late crops of melons 

 and cucumbers. Fulmer's Forcinrj^ Newington Wonder, and Sioii 

 House are three first-rate varieties for forcmg, and I must not for- 

 get to say that the temperature should be between 70' and 75^ 

 through the day, and 65' and 70' during the night. 



