THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



grown, many kinds requiring no 

 stakes, and being one of the most 

 remunerative of vegetable crops. 

 It may be had out-of-doors both 

 earlier and later in the season than 

 the taller-growing kinds, owing to 

 its dwarf habit adapting itself to 

 any situation as, for instance, 

 under hedges or walls, or other 

 sheltered positions ; it also comes 

 into bearing much more quickly 

 than Runners. 



Where French Beans are grown 

 in the open air without protection, 

 it is impossible to have them fit .to 

 gather before the latter end of June 

 or the beginning of July, unless it 

 be indeed an exceptionally favour- 

 able season. Where, however, they 

 are sown in a warm, dry situation, 

 and somewhat protected from cold 

 winds and late frosts, they may be 

 had fit for table during the second 

 and third weeks in June. Where 

 it is desirable to have Beans out-of- 

 doors as early in the season as 

 possible, it is a good plan to sow 

 thickly under hand-lights in a warm 

 corner, and then transplant when 

 the plants have made the first pair 

 of rough leaves. After preparing 

 the ground in which they are to 

 be planted, which should be the 

 warmest, driest, and most sheltered 

 available, they may be carefuHy 

 lifted with as much soil adhering 

 to the roots as possible, and planted 

 in rows i^ or 2 ft. apart, or in 

 patches, whichever is most practic- 

 able ; in either case the plants 

 should be about 6 in. apart. 

 If the planting be done early in 

 the day, they may receive a gentle 

 watering to settle the soil round 

 the roots ; if otherwise, it will be 

 better to leave them unwatered 

 until the next morning. - All pos- 

 sible protection should then be 

 given them ; if hand - lights be 

 plentiful they are the best, in which 



case planting in patches should be 

 practised, as the lights can be more 

 easily placed over them ; but small 

 twigs of Laurel or Fir fixed neatly 

 round them answer the purpose 

 in the absence of anything better. 

 Rough hay-bands stretched length- 

 ways over the rows, about 6 or 

 8 in. from the ground, and firmly 

 secured to stout stakes driven in 

 the ground at each end of the rows, 

 may be employed with advantage. 

 A rough frame, made with sticks 

 driven in the ground and others 

 tied across them to admit of mats, 

 straw hurdles, or any other pro- 

 tecting material being laid upon 

 them at night, is also useful ; but 

 whatever is used to protect them, 

 care must be taken so to place it 

 as to avoid draughts as much as 

 possible. Sowings for this purpose 

 may be made in the beginning of 

 April. If the weather be favour- 

 able, the ground in which early 

 Beans are to be grown should be 

 deeply dug and left rather rough. 

 The next day, when the sun is 

 going down, the ground should be 

 again turned over with a fork, in 

 order to turn the warm soil under- 

 neath and expose the cold to the 

 next day's sun. If this can be done 

 two or three days consecutively, a 

 great advantage will be gained. 

 The last time on which the soil is 

 moved it should be made fine on 

 the top, to prevent the under-soil 

 again becoming cold. 



When the seed is sown where it 

 is to remain, drills may be drawn 

 with a hoe, 2 ft. apart and 2 in. 

 deep, and sufficiently wide to admit 

 of two rows of Beans being placed 

 3 or 4 in. apart. The distance 

 from bean to bean in the rows is 

 usually 8 or 9 inches. Where seed 

 is no object, they may be sown 

 much thicker, and thinned out to 

 the required distances apart, after 



