THE FLORAL WORLD AND aARDEN GUIDE. 



157 



for this black fly ; but the plants 

 should be well drenched with clean 

 rain-water the next day after the ope- 

 ration, to wash away tlie mixture from 

 the leaves. 



Kidney-beans are very distinct in 

 character, and about the most accom- 

 modating summer crop we have. In- 

 deed, their fertility and hardiness is 

 rather against them ; for since they 

 will grow anywhere, and prove pro- 

 ductive under the worst of treatment, 

 they are very often dealt with in a 

 careless way ; whereas, with good cul- 

 ture, their produce is immensely supe- 

 rior, and half a dozen times as heavy 

 as when they are badly treated. 



Unlike peas, which are more nu- 

 merous in name than variety, the 

 many sorts of kidney-bean are really 

 very much distinct. Some are chiefly 

 valuable for the green pod to cook as 

 a vegetable, and some for the ripe 

 seeds, to be stewed, or used as an in- 

 gredient in hashes and other made 

 dishes. The earliest crop of dwarf, 

 usually called French beans, is raised 

 in heat, the first sowing takes place in 

 January, in pots placed on the flue of 

 a hothouse, or in rows in mould on a 

 hotbed, these come into use in March 

 and are very delicate, looking like wax 

 models of beans, and covered with a 

 soft bloom. Where facilities exist for 



tures. Sow in pots, half a dozen plants 

 in each five-inch pot, place the pots in 

 a warm corner, or cupboard, near a 

 kitchen fire. As soon as they come 

 up, place them in a window, and water 

 sparingly. On fine days put them out 

 to get hardened, and when they begin 

 to fight for existence, plant them out on 

 a warm slope in a dry soil, taking 

 care to handle the roots tenderly. If 

 the weather is cold put a few mats, or 

 some litter, over them every night for 

 a time, or, if you have plenty of spare 

 pots, turn a pot over each at dusk, and 

 lay an oyster-shell, or flat crock, over 

 the hole in the j)ot, to confine the 

 warm air that rises from the earth, 

 and continue this until the weather is 

 wai-m enough for their full exposure. 

 They will soon blossom, and bear very 

 well three weeks earlier than those 

 sown in the open ground. The best 

 sorts for forcing and the earliest crops 

 are Newington Wonder, Mohawk, 

 Fulmer's Early Forcing, and Haricot 

 Noir. 



The general crop of French beans 

 should be sown in the second week 

 in April, and should be followed by 

 another sowing in May ; sow two 

 inches deep, in rows two feet apart, 

 the seeds four inches apart, to bo 

 thinned afterwards to twice that dis- 

 tance. Slugs and snails frequently 



the early culture of French beans, it is I make havoc with the early plants, 

 a very easy crop to manage ; they j hence the necessity for thick sowing, 

 should be kept close to the glass, have 1 When the plants get a little fibrous 

 plenty of air and moisture, and the i and half a "dozen leaves, the vermin 

 temperature should not rise higher j cease to annoy them ; then the rows 

 than 75 ' at any time, but 60' may be , should be dressed up, gaps made good 

 considered a safe average. If planted | with spare plants, and not any two left 

 out in beds, under glass, the rows j nearer than eight inches ; indeed the 

 should be a foot apart, and the plants Negro, which is a very strong grower, 

 six inches asunder. When watered, it bears better at ten or twelve inches 

 should be with tepid water — a rule | apart. The most useful sorts for 

 which applies to everything in process general open ground culture are — 

 of forcing. A second crop for plant- i Negro, which bears abundantly, but is 

 ing out may be sown in frames ; rather coarse ; Purple Speckled, boils 

 the first week in March, and when a fine colour ; Haricot Noir de Bel- 

 three inches high, be carefully trans- j gique, very quick growing, and good 

 planted to a warm border, or, if the ; when quite young; Dwarf American 

 weather be ungenial, they may be j White, almost free from string and 

 planted out in patches, so that hand- very prolific, requires eighteen inches 

 lights may be placed over them at between the rows, as it climbs a little ; 

 night, for a time. Tiiose who do not ' and for the latest crop, to be sown in 

 mind the trouble, may have a very I May, Dwarf White Dutch, 

 early crop of French beans without j For the ripe seeds, which, when 

 the need of frames, or heating struc- 1 properly cooked, make a fine dish, use 



