310 GARDENING FOR PLEASURE. 



diameter. The term '' bill" is an unfortunate one, as it 

 often leads inexperienced persons to suppose that a tall 

 heap must be made, and it is a common mistake to form 

 miniature hills often a foot or more in bight, upon which 

 to sow seeds or set plants. The effect of this is to confine 

 t!ie roots to this small, high, and dry space. When the 

 word 'Miill" is used in this work, it is to indicate the 

 place plants are to occupy, and unless some bight is 

 mentioned, it is not above the general level. After the 

 hill has been properly formed around the pole, from five 

 to six beans should be planted around it at a depth of 

 two inches ; but the planting should never be done in this 

 latitude before the 20th of May. In all our experience 

 as seedsmen, we know of no seed that is so universally 

 replanted as Lima Beans. I think it safe to say, that at 

 least half of all the people who buy, plant before the 

 ground is dry and warm, and then tell us that the seed 

 must have been bad, because it rotted in the ground. In 

 the hurry of business we have not always time to explain 

 why they rotted, and would here state, for the sake of 

 ourselves and cotemporaries, that the reason why the 

 Limas fail to grow in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred 

 is, that they are planted too early, and that it is no fault 

 of the seed, which is rarely imperfect. The proper 

 method of planting Lima Beans is to push each one 

 singly into the soil, from one to two inches deep, with the 

 eye down\vard. The embryo is so very broad and flat 

 that it is difficult for it to turn itself as smaller seeds do 

 when placed in a wrong position. From one to two 

 quarts are used for an ordinary family. 



The Large White Lima is the variety that is most 

 prized. 



The Jersey Extra Early Lima is a new and excellent 

 variety, nearly a w^eek earlier than the Large Lima, 

 though not quite so large. 



The Scarlet Runner is a highly ornamental variety, 



