RUNNER BEANS 71 



flavour is superior if well grown. Like all others, they 

 need much moisture during growth, and ample room 

 from plant to plant. The best way is to place the seed 

 in drills or trenches at six inches apart, a double row in 

 each trench being best if plenty of space can be allowed. 

 By having trenches it is an easier matter to supply 

 moisture. The following are excellent Earliest of All, 

 Excelsior, Epicure, Princess of Wales, Tender and True, 

 and Veitch's Climbing. The last-named, though a little 

 smaller than others, is earlier, which is a great gain. 

 In 1900, the Messrs Carter of High Holborn sent out a 

 remarkably early Climbing French Bean known as Ten 

 Weeks, a decided gain both as regards earliness, crop, and 

 productiveness. This, like the others named, should be 

 gathered young. 



The ordinary Scarlet Runner is grown so simply that 

 my note concerning it will be brief. Much the same 

 conditions of culture as advised for dwarfs are applicable, 

 except that scarlet runners are sown later. It is not safe to 

 sow till the middle of May in cold soils, as should they 

 come through the soil freely the plants will suffer badly in 

 cold weather. They should be covered at night for a time. 

 Sown later there is no trouble, and, like the new climber, 

 the plants are best sown in deep drills or trenches, and 

 grown thinly. I need not give a long list of varieties, 

 such kinds as Chelsea Giant, White Mammoth, Scarlet 

 Masterpiece, Mammoth White, Best of All, Abund- 

 ance, and the older Champion Runner and Painted 

 Lady being all good. A much better crop may be 

 secured by making an early sowing in May and one a 

 month later, by which means a long season is secured. 

 In market gardens the runner bean is not staked, but 

 grown in rows like the Dwarfs. However, they do 

 much better if given supports. 



