14 



QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 



Sowing Peas. 



Beans. 



Soil 

 Covering. 



Beans, form 

 of Pods. 



Planting 

 liima Beans. 



Distance. 



Bean, 

 Banners. 



Runners. 



Bean Rust. 



depends largely for its support upon the store of food laid upon the seed, 

 any reduction in this store of food tends to make the plant weak and 

 puny. 



63. Q. "When sowing peas in rows, how many seeds should be placed 

 to the foot ? 



A. It is bad policy to save seed at the possible risk of a crop, for insects 

 or excessive rainfall or no rain whatever may prevent the development 

 of healthy plants. It is best to sow four seeds to the inch. The growing 

 plants to be afterward pulled out or cut out to two plants to the inch. 



64. Q. What is the proper time to plant garden beans ? 



A. Sow when the apple is in bloom, and repeat as frequently as neces- 

 sary till within fifty days of frost. In field culture sow in drills at two 

 and a half feet apart. In garden culture, when the cultivating is done 

 by hand, the rows may be at eighteen inches. The seed should be sown 

 in such quantity as under ordinary circumstances to warrant one bean 

 vine to every four inches. If closer than this their production will be im- 

 paired. On strong soil they do best at a greater distance. Yield about 

 75 to 80 bushels. Florida and Mobile beans reach Philadelphia from 

 November till March ; those shipments in January command from $5 to $7 

 per crate. Round-podded varieties are most in demand. Beans gener- 

 ally sell well, but by first of April decline to $3 to $5 per crate, and sub- 

 sequently fall lower by reason of injury in transportation. 



65. Q. How deep should seeds be covered ? 



A. As a rule seeds should not be covered over four (4) times their 

 diameter, and when the soil is heavy seldom to that depth, 



66. Q. What is the advantage of a round or cylindrical-podded bean 

 over a flat-podded variety ? 



A. The round is always more brittle, less stringy, and contains more 

 flesh under the same amount of cuticle. 



67. Q. How shall I plant my Lima beans, on side or flat, eyes down or up ? 

 A. Eyes down. 



68. Q. How far apart should Lima bean poles be set ? 



A. Four by four feet if in a patch, or if in a single row then everj-- three 

 feet. Wire netting three to four feet high and supported by posts is 

 better. 



69. Q. What is a runner among bush beans or peas? 



A. It is a plant which develops a long vine, and as such stands out in 

 marked contrast among the other vines which are of uniform height. 



70. Q, Are all tall growing vines of peas and bush beans runners ? 



A. No. As often a vine situated over a lump of manure will run from 

 extra fertility — or deeply-rooted vines will continue in growth alter all 

 others have stopped. 



71. Q. Why do wax- podded beans rust more than green-podded varie- 

 ties? 



A. Rust, so called, is the result of a fungus growth, which seems to 



