May 4. 191S 



HOKTICULTURE 



433 



EGETABLE 



ULTURE 



Questions by our readers In line with any of the topics presented 

 on this page will be cordially received and promptly answered 

 by Mr. Johnson. Such coinmunications should invariably be ad- 

 dressed to the office of HORTICULTURE. 



CONDUCTED BY 



ic^^J^M-^"^' 



Lima Beans and Melons Under Glass 



Re your notes on Vegetable Culture, would Mr. Johnson 

 advise as to the growing of lima beans, pole or bush, under 

 glass during the winter months? 



Also re musk melons. We have a very short summer 

 season in this district. Would Mr. Johnson give us any 

 advice as to planting melons on benches that had been used 

 for lettuce during winter. The center benches are five 

 feet wide and the wide ones thirty-one inches. What suc- 

 cess would we have growing them on the center benches 

 without any supports, letting the vines grow along the 

 ground same as outdoors, and distance apart? N. I. 



Penna. 



Although highly prized as a garden crop the lima 

 bean is not so popular for forcing purpose.s as the dwarf 

 French or string beaai, nor can it be said that as a pay- 

 ing crop the lima merits the same attention. To make 

 a success of growing lima beans rmder glass during 

 winter the seed of either the bush or pole varieties must 

 be planted not later than the first week of October. The 

 seed may lie first planted either in the bench or else 

 started singly in :Mnch pots. We prefer the latter 

 method as thereby a good stand of vigorous plants is 

 insured. The soil should be well enriched with well 

 decayed manure and a little bone meal and should be 

 of a rather light porous nature; stagnant moisture at 

 the roots or in the atmosphere is fatal to lima beans. 

 Good fibrous loam is the ideal. Set the plants of a 

 bush variety alternately in double rows across the bench 

 so that they stand six inches asunder and allow two feet 

 between the rows from center to center. Give abun- 

 dance of air when weather imiditions warrant in the 

 early stages to encourage sturdy growth but never allow 

 the plants to suffer a chill. A night temperature of 60 

 degrees to 65 degrees wdll suffice at this stage. Allow 

 a gradual rise in the temperature of ten degrees by the 

 time the plants are in bearing. Spray with clear 

 water twice daily in briglit weather to promote healthy 

 vigorous growth and to prevent an attack of red spider, 

 and when the plants are growing freely and have be- 

 come nicely established, piiu'h out the growing points. 

 The plants will need support and for this purpose there 

 is nothing better than a few birch twigs stuck on either 

 side of the row. Care must be taken not to injure the 

 stem of plant or the foliage when the brush is being 

 placed ill position. l?emove the slender growing points 

 as quick as they begin to show when the plants are in 

 bearing, and a])]>ly weak li(|uid manure frequently as a 

 stimubmt at tliis same stage. Similar conditions of both 

 soil and temperature would suit jiole limas. We would, 

 however, prefer a solid lied fur this crop and would plant 



them across the bed in single rows three feet apart,al]ow- 

 ing one foot space between the plants in the rows. Train 

 them on sticks or lieavy twine, cultivate between the 

 rows and maintain tlie same bouyant atmosphere as 

 recommended for \m>\\ limas. 



Melons 



The house which has carried lettuce during winter 

 may be at once rendered available for the melon crop, 

 and with reasonable care a fair crop would be obtain- 

 able on lieiiches without supporting the plants. Set 

 the plants in pairs through the center of the five-foot 

 Ijencli and give space of three feet lietween the hills. The 

 young plants should be pinched back when three rough 

 leaves appear and (he side growtlis which later develop 

 may be allowed to grow until the edge of the bench is 

 reached before lieing stopped. Let the growth then 

 run until the crop is visible, and when fruit is set, pinch 

 the growth at one leaf beyond the fruit. It is better to 

 stop the plants frequently to avoid overcrowding, rather 

 than practice a method of severe pruning at any one 

 time. Admit air freely in fine w-eather and give an 

 overhead spray twice daily. . Never allow the plants to 

 be dry at the roots and maintain a reasonably damp 

 atmosphere until the fruit is about to "set" when the 

 hoii.se may be ke|it a little drier for a few days, after 

 which time resort to spraying the plants again to keep 

 them clean and healthy. If means would allow, and 

 rather than let the plants ramble over the benches, a 

 better system would be to construct a temporary trellis 

 on which to train tb'' plants. Make a double ridge of 

 good fibrous loam through the middle of the 5-foot 

 bench and train the plants to wires on either side. The 

 soil should be thoroughly compact at the time of plant- 

 ing. We allow about fifteen inches between the plants 

 and train them to a single stem, allowing only one fruit 

 to a vine. This is an excellent method to adopt if 

 large shapely specimens are sought and almost invaria- 

 bly ensures a very even crop. If planted two and a half 

 feet to three feet apart the plants may be allowed to 

 carry two or three leaders and as many fruit to each 

 ])lant. When the fruit shows signs of coloring grad- 

 ually withhold water at the roots and by all means stop 

 spraying the idants. In the matter of withholding 

 moisture at the root use judgment; don't allow the 

 plant to shrivel up before the fruit is thoroughly 

 ripened. If the ])lants are allowed to grow over the 

 surface of the liench care should be taken to rest the 

 fruits on tiles, pieces of wood, or better still to stand 

 tliem ufion inverted flower pots. 



food 



food 



