MISCELLANEOUS VEGETABLES 357 



a pound. Early summer beans may retail for 10 cents a 

 pound. The demand for forced beans in this country 

 may increase rapidly when more of our wealthy con- 

 sumers learn of the superior quality of the greenhouse 

 product. Under the controlled conditions of the green- 

 house, the plants grow rapidly and produce large, tender 

 pods with a most delicious flavor. 



Beans may be grown under glass throughout the forc- 

 ing season. It is possible to start the first crop in Sep- 

 tember or October and by successive sowings at inter- 

 vals of 10 days or two weeks make continuous pickings 

 until midsummer of the following year. Any time after 

 March 1 is the most popular time for planting in the 

 United States. The large amount of sunshine at this 

 season of the year is most favorable to the rapid growth 

 of the plants. Success will be even more certain if 

 planting is deferred until April or May. 



A common practice in England is to force beans in 

 pots not less than 6 inches in diameter. Both pots and 

 boxes of various sizes are used in the United States. 

 Most of our growers prefer benches containing soil 6 to 

 8 inches deep with heating pipes underneath. Bottom 

 heat is absolutely necessary for beans during the winter 

 months, for they refuse to make a satisfactory growth 

 in cool soils. 



When the spring is well advanced, the seed may be 

 planted in solid ground beds, for the soil will then be 

 warm enough to insure rapid growth. The bean requires 

 all the light and sunshine that can be provided. It can- 

 not thrive if planted in the shade of walls, pipes or other 

 plants. 



Numerous varieties are grown under glass. Some 

 growers prefer the bush class, while others grow the pole 

 sorts. Whatever the variety or class, the plants should 

 make a rapid growth, come into bearing early and pro- 

 duce heavy crops of long, straight, symmetrical pods. 



