THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 263 



LIMA BEANS. 



Under the name of Lima beans two distinct types are 

 now recognized: Pole Limas and dwarf, or bush, Limas. Lima 

 beans are of very great commercial value, but are not sufficiently 

 appreciated as a table food because it is not generally known that in 

 a dry state they can be used in practically the same manner as are 

 the common beans. In reality they are richer and more delicate in 

 flavor than the common beans, and can be used in as many different 

 ways. The virtues of these types as green beans need only a passing 

 mention, and their value as an accompaniment of corn in succotash 

 is well known to every consumer of canned goods. 



Planting. The common method of handling the Lima bean in 

 the climate of the northern tier of States, outside of the irrigated belt, 

 is to plant from three to five beans in hills 18 to 36 inches apart, with 

 the rows 3% to 4 feet apart, and after all danger from cold and from 

 insect enemies is past the beans are thinned to about three plants to 

 the hill. As the beans are exceedingly tender, it is necessary to delay 

 planting in the open until about a week or ten days after the time 

 for planting the common garden beans. After the second cultiva- 

 tion, when the tendency to climb has manifested itself, the plantation 

 is supplied with poles from 5 to 6 feet high, or with a trellis running 

 from end to end of the row, which may be made by stretching two 

 or three wires lengthwise of the row and weaving between them 

 strands of ordinary wool twine. If the trellis is employed the-; beans 

 can be planted in practically continuous rows, so that they stand 

 about a foot apart. Toward the northern limit for cultivating this 

 crop, one is fortunate if one-half to two-thirds of the pods which set 

 upon the plants mature the seed. Farther south the crop is propor- 

 tionally heavier. 



In California and in other irrigated regions where there are well- 

 marked wet and dry seasons, the dry season, accompanied by heavy, 

 fogs, occurring during the summer months, it is possible to Cultivate 

 Lima beans somewhat as follows : Upon moderately riclv somewhat 

 sandy valley land, cultivation can be carried out by planting the 

 beans as soon as all danger from rains has ceased and "the plantation 

 will remain dry except for irrigation. If there has not been suffi- 

 cient winter rain to thoroughly moisten the land it should be well 

 watered and allowed to dry to a good cultural condition before plant- 

 ing. Seed can then be planted in hills about 3 a /2 or 4 feet apart each 

 way, or in drills, the beans scattered about a foot apart in rows 4 feet 

 apart. After the beans have germinated it may be necessary to culti- 

 vate them once or twice with a sweep of some type, to destroy any 

 weeds which may have sprung up from the moist ground. All mois- 

 ture should be withheld and a dust mulch over the surface preserved 

 by running a sweep over the plantation once or twice more, and then 

 the vines should be allowed to take possession of the territory. This 

 obviates the necessity of using poles, and the crop can grow to 

 maturity under these conditions without irrigation, without cultiva- 

 tion, and without poles. 



At harvest time a root cutter is passed under the lines of the 



