GARDENING AND TRUCK FARMING. 205 



profits from asparagus will average $400.00 per acre. But two 

 varieties are named in the catalogues, "Conover's Colossal," and 

 "Giant," of which the first named is the largest and most 

 profitable. 



Beans. In the chapter on miscellaneous crops the cultiva- 

 tion of the navy bean is treated. The best bush bean for the 

 garden that I have ever seen is the black wax. To call it a 

 string bean is a misnomer, for it is absolutely stringless. It is 

 also tender and of excellent flavor, and is best when fully grown. 

 The seed is a glossy black, and the pod a clear yellow. They 

 are very prolific, and bear quite close planting. I prefer hills 

 one foot apart, with three beans in a hill and the rows may be 

 from eighteen inches to two feet apart. They are quite hardy, 

 and the first planting may be made the latter part of April and 

 every two weeks thereafter till the first of August. They are 

 not suitable for shelling, for which purpose the golden wax and 

 white kidney are the best. 



Pole Beans. As the poling of beans is expensive I would 

 never plant pole beans if there were as good dwarf varieties, 

 but none have been found that compare with the Lima. There 

 are three varieties, the " Large Lima," the " Small Lima," also 

 called the " Sieva," or "Carolina," and " Dreer's Improved." 

 Of these, the second is best for family use, as it is earliest, 

 most prolific, and easiest to shell, and it also takes to the poles 

 more readily than the other varieties. The Dreer's Improved 

 is the largest and best flavored of all; the seeds are not white 

 when ripe, but of a pale greenish color, and are formed more 

 closely in the pod than any other variety. All these varieties 

 are excellent for winter use and can be grown at a profit for 

 this purpose, or for sale. The most durable bean poles I ever 

 saw are those cut from Osage orange hedges, as they are almost 

 indestructible. 



Any one expecting to engage in growing pole beans should 

 plant a plot of black locusts to provide a supply of poles; they 

 can be grown large enough in three or four years, and have not 

 the objectionable thorns that the Osage has. Over ten thou- 

 sand can be grown on an acre, and six hundred of the best left 



