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LEGUMINOSJE. CLXXXVIII. PHASEOLUS. 



the drouglit of summer it is advisable to accelerate the germi- 

 nation of the seed, by laying it in damp mould till it begins to 

 sprout, or by soaking it in soft water for 6 or 8 hours previous 

 to sowing, and by watering the drills to receive them. Crops 

 sown after the middle of July should be favoured in situation, 

 or the time of their bearing will be much shortened by the de- 

 cline of summer. From this course of sowings, a regular suc- 

 cession of young green pods will be produced from June and July 

 till October. As the plants of the different crops advance in 

 growth, occasionally hoe and stir the ground between the rows. 

 Cut down all weeds as they spring. Draw some earth to the 

 stems of the plants as they rise in height, which will strengthen 

 HIM! forward them considerably. When advanced to full bearing, 

 it is advisable to gather the pods in moderate, young, or medium 

 growth. 



Culture of runners, or varieties of P. mvltiftbms. The runners 

 may be sown in a small portion towards the end of April, if the 

 weather is tolerably warm and dry ; but as the seeds of the run- 

 ners are rather more tender than those of the dwarf kidney-beans, 

 they are more liable to rot in the ground by wet or cold, especially 

 those of the scarlet and white runners, therefore the beginning or 

 middle of May will be time enough to sow a considerable crop, 

 and you may sow a full crop about the beginning of June. Allot 

 principally the scarlet and large white runners. Some Diitch- 

 runners are very eligible as a secondary crop. The first crops 

 should have the assistance of a south wall. Intermediate crops 

 may be sown in any open compartment, or against any fence, not 

 looking north. The latest sown will continue bearing the longer 

 under a good aspect and shelter. In sowing, draw drills about 

 li or 2 inches deep. Let parallel rows be at least 4 feet 

 asunder, to admit in the intervals tall sticks or poles for the 

 plants to climb upon. Place the beans in the drills 4 inches 

 apart, and earth them in evenly, the deptli of the drills. A row 

 contiguous to a fence or building may ascend upon lines. Some 

 may be sown in a single row along a border, or on each side of 

 a walk ; and have the support of a slight trellis of laths and 

 lines, or poles may be placed at certain distances, having a 

 rope drawn along their tops, having lines suspended from it, 

 or they might be arched over with similar materials, so as to 

 form a shady walk or bower. In cold wet seasons, or when 

 requisite to have a few plants more forward than the general 

 crop, some scarlet-runners may be sown in April, either in 

 a slight hot-bed, or in pots under frames or hand-glasses, 

 to raise and forward the plants till 2 or 3 inches high, then, 

 at the end of May, transplant them into a garden. As the 

 plants in the open ground advance from 3 to C inches in 

 growth, hoe up some earth to the stems, cutting down all weeds 

 at the same time, and when they begin to send forth runners, 

 place suitable supports to each, such as are mentioned above, 

 and conduct the tendrils to the sticks or lines, turning the stems 

 in a contrary direction to the sun. The ascending stems will 

 soon come into flower, podding at the joints in long succession. 

 They are so prolific that the returns, from 3 sowings made in 

 May, June, and July, will last from July till October. 



Taking the crop. Gather the pods, both from the dwarfs and 

 runners, while they are young, fleshy, brittle, and tender, for 

 then are th,ey in highest perfection for the table ; and the plants 

 will bear more fully, and last longer in fruit, under a course of 

 clean gathering, not leaving any superabundant pods to grow old. 



To save seed. Either sow a portion for that object, or leave 

 rows wholly ungathered of the main crops, or preserve a suffi- 

 ciency of good pods promiscuously. The beans saved should 

 be the first fruits of a crop sown at a period which throws the 

 entire course of growth into the finest part of summer. Let 

 them hang upon the stalks till they are fully ripe, till August or 

 September ; then let the haulm be pulled up and placed in the 



sun to dry and harden the seed, which should be afterwards 

 cleared out of the husks, bagged up, and housed. 



Forcing the kidney-bean. It is often partially forced in hot- 

 houses or frames, with a view to its fruiting in the open garden ; 

 and supplies of green pods are also kept up throughout the 

 winter and spring months, by forcing in hot-houses and pits. 

 The kidney-bean may be successfully forced in pits, hot-houses 

 or forcing-houses, and hot-beds. The more general mode is 

 to force in pine-stoves ; the same heat which suits the pine- 

 apple suits the kidney-bean, which is a native of India. Nicol 

 prefers a flued pit, such as that used for nursing pine-apple 

 plants ; and Abercrombie says, " Where there are not hot- 

 houses, or where kidney-beans are to be raised in quantities for 

 the market, the most economical and successful mode will be 

 found a flued pit, with rather a strong bottom heat, and covering 

 the bed with light vegetable mould." 



Sorts. Abercrombie recommends the Early-speckled, Earli/- 

 negro, and Dun-coloured dwarfs. Nicol says the Speck/ed- 

 dwarfis the best sort. 



Sowing. Sow in flat boxes or pans filled with fine light 

 earth, and cover the seed the depth of an inch. Let them be 

 placed in a stove or hot-bed, and have moderate supplies of 

 water, and they will be fit to transplant when about 3 inches in 

 height. Plant them in rows across the bed of the pit, 15 

 inches apart and 3 inches distant in the line. 



Culture. Water after planting, and afterwards as required ; 

 give abundance of air every fine day, and earth up the plants as 

 they advance in growth, in order to give them strength. 



Time of beginning to force. M'Phail says, " if you wish to 

 endeavour to have kidney-beans green all the year, you should 

 plant the seeds and begin to force in August." Abercrombie 

 observes, " some forcers, quite in opposition to the season, raise 

 kidney-beans in August, and thence to the 21st of December, 

 which day may be regarded as the boundary between late and 

 early forcing." 



Temperature. The heat by fire at night need not exceed 50, 

 according to Nicol, but Abercrombie recommends 00 for the 

 minimum, and 75 for the maximum. 



Succcssional supplies, are to be obtained by sowing every 

 month or 6 weeks, for which purpose the pits may be divided, 

 in a temporary way, by fitting a board neatly under the middle 

 rafter. By this means the one half of the pit may be kept 

 cooler by matting or not matting, or by the admission of more 

 or less air ; this will protract the growth of the beans more in 

 one part than the other. 



Forcing kidney-beans in a hot-house. " The most early fruit 

 in perfection is obtained by culture in a stove, sowing from 

 mid-winter till the end of March. Sow in pots or oblong boxes, 

 containing a mixture of light fresh earth and vegetable mould, 

 depositing the seeds either in a triangular or quincunx order, 

 and full an inch deep. If the plants are to fruit where sown, 

 the cradles should be 10 inches deep ; but if they are to be 

 transplanted, which admits a greater number in the same spnce, 

 the seed-pots or boxes may be shallow. Do not fill the cradles 

 with mould at first, to allow of gradually earthing up. When 

 the beans have germinated, sprinkle the earth with water ; after 

 the plants have risen, give moderate waterings every other day ; 

 the last crops may want water every day. Sprinkle also tin-- 

 leaves with water, warmed by standing some time in the house. 

 Those plants raised in shallow pans should be transplanted for 

 fruiting when 2 or 3 inches high. It is sometimes proper to 

 stop luxuriant runners. These incidental crops may stand in 

 rows on the flues, or on shelves ; but take care that they do not 

 shade the pines and other principal plants. For succession sow 

 every fortnight or 3 weeks." Abercrombie. 



Insects. Nicol observes " that the thrips often attack French 



