302 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDF^^ ^'iDE. 



ables yield sucli a satisfactory return in dr^ .:>T^asons. Kidney 

 beans undoubtedly grow with greater vigour wl n 'assisted with an 

 abundance of moisture at the I'oot, but they may be sown \n the 

 driest of seasons, with the full assurance of obtaining , a, ^dod crop. 

 They certainly rank high amongst the best of our summer veget- 

 ables, for they are thoroughly reliable, and when gathered at the 

 right moment, and cooked properly, they form a dish which is 

 generally acceptable. The Bed Flageolet, which was recently sent 

 out at a high price under another name, has this year proved to be 

 one of the best of its class, for it has produced tremendous crops, 

 the pods, when quite young and tender, averaging nine inches in 

 length, and three quarters of an incli in breadth. Carter s Advancer, 

 a new variety of this season, has also turned out exceedingly well, 

 but the Mont d'Or, and other Golden Butter beans, certificated by 

 the Royal Horticultural Society last year, are practically worthless ; 

 they are not remarkable for productiveness, the pods are of medium 

 size, and of a pale yellow colour, which changes during the cooking 

 to a most objectiouuble yellowish green, and those who were not 

 acquainted with the varieties would not be slow in coming to the 

 conclusion that they were old samples of the ordinary varieties 

 badly cooked. The Runner beans sown on the level have not done 

 so well this year as usual. They have required abundant supplies 

 of water, and even then there was some difficulty in obtaining 

 sufficient supplies, because so many of the flowers did not set. 

 The rows planted below the level, and mulched with short grass, and 

 other refuse, bore abundantly. This may be safely attributed to 

 the soil about the roots being maintained in a much moisture condi- 

 tion than is possible when they are sown on the level. By pre- 

 paring the ground as for celery, and sowing in the trenches, Scarlet 

 Runners yield well in dry seasons, and in ordinary summers they 

 will be found one of the most useful vegetables for small gardens 

 that could be grown. 



Vegetable Mari'ows have done well where the ground was well 

 prepared, and they have been well supplied with water. It is not 

 good practice to plant them on a manure heap, as is so frequently 

 done, but they require to be planted in soil that has been liberally 

 dressed with manure, and stirred deeply. Planting on mounds is 

 also objectionable, for in dry summers the plants are dried up, 

 and it is practically impossible to supply them properly with water, 

 as it runs away as fast as it is poured on, and very little finds its 

 way to the roots. The tops of the young shoots nicely cooked 

 make an acceptable dish where there is a scarcity of vegetables, but 

 young tops and fruit cannot be obtained from the same plants. It 

 may be said that there will be no gain in gathering the shoots 

 insitead of leaving them to attain their full development and 

 produce fruit. 



The potato crop of 1874, notwithstanding the fact that in 

 many of the more important districts the haulm was cut down to 

 the ground upon more than one occasion, is one of the best we have 

 had for some years ; the tubers are mostly of fair size and of 

 splendid quality. The samples obtained by the ridge system of 



