Encyclopaedia of Gardening 195 



it pushes through the soil. Immense quantities are exported to 

 Great Britain. It has only a small green tip, and is very wasteful 

 if cooked in the ordinary way, as before the blanched part is soft 

 the tender green tip is scattered. It should be cooked on end until 

 the white part is soft, and only laid on its side to finish off the green 

 tip. Forcing : An early crop of Asparagus may be secured by 

 forcing. One plan is to place a light framework of laths over the 

 bed and cover it with hot manure. Another is to make up a hot- 

 bed, cover it with light, friable soil about 4 ins. deep, pack the roots 

 in with a few inches of soil over them, and then place on a light. 

 Where a heated pit is available the roots need merely be packed in 

 soil, watered as required, and brought on in a temperature of about 

 65. Where forcing is practised it is advisable to have a constant 

 succession of roots coming on, so that the forced roots, which are 

 greatly weakened, can be thrown away. Asparagus beetle : The 

 greenish larvae of the Asparagus beetle (Crioceris Asparagi) do 

 much harm by feeding on the young shoots and foliage; but the 

 bluish beetle, which is about J in. long, also feeds. If an attack is 

 noticed, boil -J- Ib. of soft soap in a gallon of water, stir in Ib. each 

 of soot and flowers of sulphur, dip the shoots in, and afterwards 

 syringe. Rust : This fungoid disease sometimes blackens the 

 foliage in summer. Before the attack has got far spray with Bor- 

 deaux Mixture (which see). Varieties : Connover's Colossal is 

 very reliable. Early Giant Argenteuil is also good. 



Bean. In its different species, which vary greatly, the Bean is 

 one of the most esteemed of hardy vegetables. The Broad Bean 

 (Faba vulgaris) is hardy, but the Kidney Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) 

 is not, and the Scarlet Runner (Phaseolus multinorus) still less so. 

 Both of the latter are perhaps more valuable than the Broad Bean, 

 certainly the Runner is, as in addition to more delicate flavour it 

 crops much longer, lasting well into the autumn if frost permits. 

 All the Beans like a deep, well-manured soil. The Broad Bean 

 may be sown in November or March, the seeds being set singly 

 8 ins. apart. When they come into flower black aphides will attack 

 the tips of the shoots, which must be broken off with finger and 

 thumb below the point of attack and destroyed. The plants will 

 not require sticks, but if the row is in an exposed place it may be 

 well to drive in stakes every few feet and run two tiers of strong 

 string along as a support. There are two classes, Longpod and 

 Windsor, and there are white and green-seeded sections of each. 

 Exhibition Longpod (white seed) is the most useful of all. The 

 dwarf French or Kidney Bean should not be sown before mid- April, 

 and the seeds may be dropped singly 6 ins. apart; if very strong 

 growth follows the plants may be thinned. This Bean likes moist, 

 fertile soil in a sheltered place. It must be picked regularly while 

 the pods are young or it will be over quickly. Canadian Wonder 

 and Superlative are two of the best varieties. There is now a climb- 

 ing section, of which Tender and True and Princess of Wales are 

 good representatives. The Scarlet Runner is the most useful of 

 all the Beans, and in rich, moist soil, and with regular picking, it 

 will keep on bearing for months. In hot, dry soil it often falls a 

 prey to red spider. Early crops may be had by sowing seed in 



