CHAP, VII VILLA GARDENING 431 



adapted for late work than the Scarlet Runner. It is best, where 

 it can be done, to isolate the rows, or at least let them have plenty 

 of space, so that the hght may faU fully on them. In no ease 

 should there be less than 6 feet of space between the rows, and if 

 very tall stakes are used this distance should be increased. We 

 always save the largest and strongest from the bundles of Pea- 

 sticks, when they are dressed in winter, for the Runner Beans. 

 These, when placed to the Beans, and their tops trimmed and 

 levelled, are about 6 feet high, and with this height of stick 6 feet 

 spaces should be left between the rows. The best way to plant 

 the Beans is to draw drills 3 inches deep, the same as for Peas, 

 and 6 inches wide, and plant a double row, the individual seeds to 

 be 5 inches apart in the rows. As soon as the plants have formed 

 the first pair of leaves draw some soil up to the stems from each 

 side, and place the sticks to them, so that the twining shoots may 

 find supports the moment they need them. Then, as the leading 

 shoots reach the top of the sticks, pinch the points out to strengthen 

 the growth below, and keep it -ft-ithm bounds. In hot dry weather 

 the blossoms sometimes drop instead of setting. A soaking of 

 water and a few inches of mulch wHl correct this, and the latter 

 is a great support during summer. This attention, especially if 

 the situation is open and sunny, will be a great help. In dry 

 porous soils tlie main crop may with advantage be planted in 

 trenches or hollows, and the soil beneath should be well manm-ed 

 and broken up. These stations should lie prepared early in spring, 

 so that the soil may have time to become adjusted or partially 

 consohdated. In shallow soils the trench system does not answer 

 so well ; but by sowing on the surface in the ordinaiy way, and 

 drawing up a ridge of soil on each side, the benefit of a trench may 

 be secured without reducing the depth of soil available for the 

 roots. Runner Beans are often used as a blind, and a very 

 excellent and profitable summer blind they make. They wiU nm 

 up string stretched on the face of a wall, or may be made to cover 

 an arch spanning a walk. The pods should be gathered as soon 

 as large enough for use. If allowed to form Beans, the strength of 

 the plants is too much reduced for continuous bearing. When 

 seeds are required it is better to plant a row for the piu-pose, as 

 those ripened in the summer-time are better calculated to transmit 

 the strength and vigour of the plants than the late Beans after the 

 plants have become exhausted. The same remark applies also to 

 the dwarf French and all other Beans. 



Varieties. — The old Scarlet Runner is very generally grown. 

 Carter's Champion and Girtford Giant are improved varieties, 

 obtained by selection. The Giant White is an excellent kind for 



