BEANS IN THE HOME GARDEN 145 



tions for garden growth, but where beans have to go upon rather 

 heavier soil in regions of heavier rains, it is necessary to give more 

 thorough spring cultivation to overcome the compacting of the soil 

 by the rain, and make it suitably mellow for the crop. For this 

 purpose, spring plowing twice, the second shallower than the first, 

 and good harrowing following the second plowing, are desirable. 

 All this work should be done when the soil works freely, and 

 only then. 



In rainfall garden practice, where moisture is short, the land 

 should lie in shape for taking in water all during the earlier part 

 of the rainy season, and not be cropped nor left hard for the spring 

 working, but where moisture is ample, the land may carry first a 

 fall-planted crop of hardy vegetables for winter use, provided this 

 crop is cleared away by February and the land put into condition to 

 store up the spring rains for the use of the beans. This practice 

 depends upon the likelihood of the late rains being generous, and 

 the soil being retentive enough. 



In garden practice young beans are quite subject to "damping 

 off," as discussed in Chapter XL The lower part of the little stem, 

 from the ground upward for a couple of inches, loses color be- 

 coming limp and palid and the upper part wilting and dying after- 

 wards. The preventive is to allow the soil surface to become dry, 

 which may be promoted by cultivation, as soon as the seedlings 

 appear, or by sanding the surface around them. It is much less 

 likely to occur when a good deep-soaking irrigation is employed 

 instead of frequent sprinkling, which keeps the surface too moist. 



Bush Beans. Varieties of this class are hardier than most 

 climbing beans and are safely planted earlier perhaps from one to 

 two weeks usually, but they should not be planted until the soil be- 

 comes warm and loses its excess of water. For hand-hoeing the 

 rows can be fifteen to eighteen inches apart, and for horse cultiva- 

 tion two feet. About four inches apart in the drill, and covered 

 from one to two inches, according to soil and season, is ordinary 

 practice. The plants can also be grown in hills. If the ground is in 

 good condition the seed can be planted before the lighter frosts of 

 spring are all over, and by slight covering they can be carried 

 through. The bush varieties will endure more cold and more heat 

 than the climbing sorts, but any considerable planting should wait 

 until the frost danger for the locality is over. Later plantings 

 should be made at short intervals, for succession and irrigation 

 must usually be resorted to quite early in the summer, except on 

 moist land or on the immediate coast. 



Bush beans are usually divided into two groups: those with 

 green pods and those with waxen, or light yellow pods. The fol- 

 lowing are favorites in this state: 



Early Mohawk, hardy and early for early crop, large flattish 

 pods. 



