40 KITCHEN-GARDENING 



BEANS. (English Dwarfs.) 

 FEVE DE MARAIS. Vicia faba. 



The principal cause of these garden Beans not succeeding 

 well in this country, is the summer heat overtaking them beforo 

 they are podded, which causes the blossom to drop off prema- 

 turely. To obviate this difficulty, they should be planted as 

 early in the spring as possible. They are generally planted in 

 England from October to April, for early crops, and from that 

 time to July, for late crops. It sometimes happens that 

 autumn plantings are injured by the coldness of their winters ; 

 but an average crop is generally obtained. . 



In the Eastern, Western, and Middle States, if a few of the 

 best varieties of these Beans be planted in the open ground, as 

 soon in the season as it can be brought into good condition, 

 they will come into bearing in regular succession, according to 

 their different degrees of earliness; and plantings may be 

 repeated every ten days of the first spring month ; but it is 

 only from those which are planted early that any tolerable 

 produce can be expected, as they become deficient in quality 

 as well as in quantity on the approach of extreme warm 

 weather. In the Southern States they may be replanted in. 

 succession throughout the autumn and winter months, which 

 will cause them to bear early in the ensuing season. 



The best mode of planting is in drills, drawn two inches 

 deep, in which the seed Beans may be dropped two or three 

 inches apart, according to their size, and the drills may be 

 from two to three feet asunder. A strong clayey soil, if well 

 drained, is the most suitable ; but they often do well in mode- 

 rately light ground, provided it be well trodden, or rolled, after 

 the Beans are planted. 



As soon as the Beans are three or four inches high, they 

 will need a careful hoeing ; and if some earth be drawn up to 

 their stems three or four times in the course of their growth, 

 it will greatly refresh and strengthen them. When they arrive 



