PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 65 



until the ground has become well Avarmecl in spring, as a frost 

 after they are up is pretty sure death to them. Plant the hush 

 sorts in rows 2 feet apart, hills 15 inches apart, with 5 or 6 beans to a 

 hill, leaving four when thinned out. Cover with one inch fine soil. 

 It is well to plant at several different periods, even into July, to keep 

 up a succession. Limas should be stuck in the ground eye down, as 

 the broad lobes cannot well turn in the soil to reach the surface. 

 Make the soil soft and light, plant in hills 3^ feet apart each way, 

 from May 1 to 15, depending upon the season — in no case when 

 the ground is cold and wet. Cover with half an inch of soil. It is 

 always better to make up the hills and set poles six to seven feet out 

 of ground, before planting the beans. Use an iron bar to set the 

 poles, putting them in firmly. Plant six to eight good beans around 

 each, leaving three or four strong plants to grow. The Horticultural 

 beans ma^^ be planted three feet apart, and a little earlier. They 

 also require poles; or both these and Limas may be trained upon 

 strings or a trellis. Keep well hoed. 



Beets. — Two, or at most, three, kinds are enough for the gar- 

 den. The early Blood Turnip Rooted suits us, though some pre- 

 fer the Bassano for the earliest. The Long; Blood is the best for 

 general winter use. Sow on a light, rich soil about the middle 

 of April for the earliest — the 10th this year — and they may be 

 used by the 1st of July. For the general crop of winter beets, 

 sow from the middle of May to June 15. These will grow 

 quicker — hence more tender — and larger than the ejlrly sowings. 

 Let the drills be 18 inches apart, made with a pointed stick or a 

 bayonet hoe; drop the seed one inch apart and cover with half an 

 inch of fine soil. When four to six inches high, thin to six inches 

 apart, using the tops and roots of those pulled out for greens. In 

 pulling for the first early, take every alternate root, leaving the 

 others one foot apart. The late sorts should be left about nine 

 inches apart at the first thinning. Beets, as well as other vegeta- 

 bles, arc usually left too thick. Radishes may be sown in the 

 drills with beets, to be pulled for use before the beets are of 

 much size. 



Cabbage. — There is a large list of varieties to select from, but 

 for the ordinary farmer, two or three kinds are sufficient, as the 

 early York, or Winningstadt, for early, and the large Bergen or 

 Drumhead for late varieties. The Marblehead is also rccom. 

 mended for size, and the Stone Mason for solidity and trustwor- 



[Am. Inst.] E 



