IRISH GARDENING. 



73 



Food Production. 

 Haricot Beans- 



Ostensibly because they were so readily pur- 

 fliased at the grocer's sliop in pre-war days, 

 the cultivation of the Haricot Bean was not 

 seriously attempted in the British Isles. The 

 erroneous impression was also fairly general 

 that our soil and climate are unsuitable for 

 their cultivation from a commercial standpoint. 

 Some eighteen montlis ago the soaring upwards 

 of the prices of imj)orted Butter Beans and 

 Haricot Beans natui'alh' caused food growers to 



unobtainable from the shops, and the Brown 

 Dutch Beans secured a footing, and have come 

 to stay. The flavour and food value surpasses 

 the kiln-dried shop Beans, and both in stews 

 and as a separate vegetable there is now. no 

 (juestion of their value. Another valuable 

 variety which did exceptionally well with us 

 last summer both in the garden and allotment 

 was Sutton's Green Gem, a pale green-seeded 

 variety of delicious flavour. 



During the summer of 1017 in tlie Piichmond 

 ( Surre}^) district numerous varieties of Haricot 

 Beans were grown in gardens and allotments. 

 The i^reference in the household for the white- 



Chinese Rhodode\di;o\s in theiu Native Habitat. 

 Photo by Mr. Geo. Forrest. 



considei" the possibility of their cvdtivation at 

 home. In this direction the Eoyal Horticul- 

 tiual Society took a leading part, importing 

 and distributing at a small charge large quan- 

 tities of the Brown Dutch Bean from Holland. 

 Numerous letters in the horticultural press 

 during the last six months furnish abundant 

 evidence of ihe success in its cultivation and 

 value as a food. A heavy crop of pods is the 

 invariable record from many localities equal- 

 ling and, in some instances, surpassing, the 

 yield of the popular Canadian Wonder Kidney 

 Bean. In a few instances there was prejudice 

 from the kitchen because of the brown colour, 

 but for a short time the White Haricots were 



seeded Beans not unnaturally led to some ex- 

 i:)eriments ^^•ith these, and with gratifying re- 

 sults. While it is not possible to justly claim 

 that in all soils and situations where the popu- 

 lar Scarlet Runner succeeds White Haiicot 

 Beans may be grown, or that they are quite 

 so vigorous in growth and abundant croppers, 

 the food value of the Harrieot Bean in winter 

 justifies their extended cultivation. 



Taking the climbing section first ; allotment 

 holders here have had for several years a 

 variety known as the Japanese Bean, or the 

 " Three Feet Long " Bean. The white seeds 

 resemble those sold in shops, and are produced 

 in narrow kidney-bean like pods 1 foot long. 



