BEANS 31 



the tough-podded, or shell Beans. The edible-podded 

 are eaten, pods and all, before the Beans are full 

 grown; they are commonly called snap or string 

 Beans, but the "strings" are undesirable, and should 

 .develop only as the pods grow old. In the best varie- 

 ties, the young pods are thick and easily break clean 

 across. The shell Beans are eaten when full-grown but 

 before they dry. Snap Beans, when mature, are often 

 used as shell Beans. Of both kinds the seed can be 

 left to ripen on the vines, and when dry can be picked, 

 shelled and stored for winter use. 



General rules, applicable to the culture of all Beans, 

 are here given. 



Do not brush against the vines when they are wet. 



Fertilizer. A general fertilizer for Beans should 

 contain chiefly potash and phosphoric acid. Beans get 

 most of their nitrogen from the air, and if over-stimu- 

 lated will run to vine; but a little nitrogen should be 

 either in the fertilizer or else applied alone before 

 sowing or just after the seedlings appear above ground. 

 On unmanured soil, a fertilizer with available per cents 

 of nitrogen 1.3, phosphoric acid 8.7, potash 12.5, may 

 be recommended. 



Soils vary somewhat according to the kind of Bean, 

 the Lima requiring the lightest, the Windsor doing 

 better on heavier land. Generally speaking, soil for 

 Beans should not have been freshly manured, even with 

 well-rotted manure ; compost is much to be preferred. 



