DWARF, FRENCH OR HARICOT BEANS 91 



banked up or " lined " with manure, more or less 

 fresh, to maintain the requisite temperature within. 



When the plants touch the glass they may be 

 bent gently towards the top of the frame, and kept 

 in that position by thin bamboo or other sticks placed 

 across them. Apart from this, the frames may also 

 be raised a little on pots or bricks, taking care, how- 

 ever, that the linings are made up well to prevent 

 the cold outside air from entering at the base. 



By this method of cultivation somewhat costly 

 and tedious apparently the first pods may be picked 

 six, eight, or ten weeks after the seed has been sown. 

 As the season advances, succession crops will appear 

 more quickly. The pods should be picked regularly 

 and systematically before they get too old, as this 

 is the only way to induce the plants to continue to 

 yield for a long time. After March it is not worth while 

 growing Dwarf Beans on hot-beds in this way, as the 

 crops for the open air are being prepared. 



Both " dwarf " and " runner " Beans have long 

 been grown in greenhouses in England during the 

 earlier months of the year the plants being either 

 in pots, or placed in beds. A temperature of 65 to 

 75 Fahr. must be maintained, and care must be 

 taken to keep the atmosphere just in the right state 

 of humidity not too saturated on the one hand, or 

 too dry on the other. 



CLOCHE CULTURE. Early crops in the open air may 

 be secured by sowing seeds in gentle heat in April, 

 afterwards transferring the plants to the open air 

 when the seed-leaves are developed, placing three 

 plants under every cloche. No air is given for a 

 few days, to give the plants a fresh start, but after- 



