872 TIIE AMERICAN FARMER. 



excellent bean for cooking in the pod. The pods grow in clusters, are very brittle and tender, 

 and mature in seventy days after planting. This is one of the most popular varieties of 

 the Southern States. Among the best dwarf or bush varieties are the EARLY DWARF, WHITE 

 WAX, BLACK WAX, EARLY CHINA, WHITE MARROWFAT, etc. 



Culture. Being extremely sensitive to cold and frost, beans should not be planted 

 before all danger from this source is passed. It is a good plan to start them well in a hotbed 

 or cold frame, and afterwards transplant them in the open air. This will insure an early 

 crop. By planting them on the reverse side of turf cut into small pieces, they can be readily 

 transplanted without disturbing the roots. A Connecticut farmer describes this method as 

 follows: &quot; I take a sharp spade and go to the side of the highway where there is a wash, as 

 the soil is pretty sure to be good, free from stone, and a close turf. I cut the turf into squares 

 of one foot, about three inches deep, hauling these on the wagon to the place chosen for the 

 crop. I lay them bottom up in the cold frame, and with an old knife cut each square of turf 

 into pieces four inches square, giving nine pieces to each square. Into each of these smaller 

 pieces of turf I stick the bean, squash, or melon seeds. I put two beans in a piece, or three 

 melon or squash seeds. I then sprinkle soil over the bed, and when the seeds are up high 

 enough, I take the pieces of turf with the plants, and set them where they are to grow. By 

 this method the roots are not broken, and they grow right along. I take two squares for a 

 hill of beans, which gives me four good plants in each hill.&quot; 



This is an excellent method for planting Lima beans, since they are generally so late in 

 maturing that they require an early start. The dwarf or bush beans are generally more hardy 

 than the running varieties, and, as a rule, should be planted two weeks earlier that the latter. 

 Beans succeed best in a sandy loam moderately manured, although they will do well in a 

 variety of soils. If the soil is too rich the ground will be mostly in leaves and vines. In 

 garden culture beans should be planted at intervals throughout the season for a succession of 

 crops, finishing the planting about the first of July. For bush beans, make the drills two 

 inches deep and two feet apart, planting the beans three inches apart in the drill, covering 

 not more than two inches deep. Pole beans should be planted in hills, according to the 

 variety, from three to four feet apart, and five or six beans to each hill. They do best when 

 planted with the eye downward. When the plants are well established, thin out to four 

 plants to a hill. They require poles from six to ten feet high to climb upon. The soil should 

 be stirred often to be kept loose and friable, and for exterminating the weeds; but only when 

 dry, since earth scattered on the leaves when wet with dew or rain will be liable to cause them 

 to rust. 



Culture of Lima Beans. Lima beans are very susceptible to cold and wet, and are 

 apt to rot in the ground, consequently they should not be planted when the soil is wet or 

 cold. If planted directly preceding a shower, or before the ground has dried off after one, 

 they will be liable to suffer from it. This variety requires much greater care in this respect 

 than any other. It is always well to plant an extra drill for supplying the places of such plants 

 as fail to thrive. They should have plenty of room for growth, consequently require planting 

 further apart than other varieties. Some of the most successful gardeners plant in hills five 

 feet apart each way, with only two plants to a hill, and one pole to each plant. Poles six 

 feet high will be sufficient, and the runners should be picked off when they reach the tops of 

 the poles, also all the side runners a foot away from the poles, which will cause them to be 

 more productive, and the strength of the plant run less to vines. It is considerable trouble 

 and labor to keep the runners back, but the additional yield thus obtained well repays. 

 When transplanting from a hotbed, great care should be used not to disturb the roots. 



Mr. W. D. Philbrick gives his method of transplanting Lima beans as follows: &quot;The 

 seed is planted in an old hotbed about May 1st to 10th. Under shelter of the glass the seed 



