P H A 



P H A 



hot-bed, to remain for bearing ; or a large oneat 

 first, in which to sow the seed and continue the 

 plants to attain perfection, as for one, two, or 

 more three-light frames, about two feet and a 

 half higli in dung : and when the great heat and 

 steam are a little abated, the bed should be 

 covered with light, rich, dry mould, six or eight 

 inches thick, for the reception of the seed; then 

 small drills should be drawn from the back to 

 the front of the bed, near an inch deep, and 

 about fifteen or eighteen inches asunder ; pla- 

 cing the beans two or three inches apart, and 

 covering them evenly with the earth the above 

 depth, then putting on the lights, tilting them 

 behind an inch or two high dailv, to give vent 

 to the steam ; and u hen the plants appear, con- 

 tinuing every day to admit air to them at all op- 

 portunities, in proportion to the temperature of 

 the weather and heat of the bed, to prevent their 

 drawing up weak, and promote their strength as 

 they rise in height; bestowing also at this time 

 moderate refreshments of water in sunny days ; 

 and when they are two or three inches high, 

 applying a little earth to their shanks; likewise 

 supporting a moderate heat in the bed during 

 the cold weather, by occasional linings of hot 

 dimg: and accordingly as the plants advance in 

 growth, and the warm season increases, aut'- 

 incnting gradually the portion of fresh air daily 

 to harden them by degrees, so as almost to be 

 fully exposed occasionally in verv warm days, 

 especially when beginning to blossom; but 

 keeping them close on nights ; continuing also 

 the care of frequent light waterings, which must 

 be increased in quantif)- as the plants advance in 

 size, particularly when Ujcy are in blossom and 

 in a fruiting state: in their advanced growth, if 

 they press much against the glasses of the frame, 

 it is proper to raise it at bottom two or three 

 inches, to give rooom at top for their free 

 growth, which is necessary to promote a plen- 

 tiful bloom for furnishing a sufHeiently full 

 crop of beans. 



In this mode they may be had at as early a 

 period as possible, as in April or early in May ; 

 but to have a constant succession of earlv kidney- 

 beans till crops in the natural-ground come in, 

 another crop should be brought forward in hot- 

 beds, as above, in three weeks after the first liot- 

 bed is made up. 



Where frames cannot be afforded for the 

 above purpose, it may be effected in March v.^ith 

 occasional coverings of mats ; a hot-bed being 

 made about two feet high of dung, earthino- it 

 directly six or seven inches thick, sowing the 

 beans as directed above, then arching the bed 

 over with hoops, &c., and covering it every 

 flight, and in all bad weather, with mats; but 



admitting the free air every mild day, gradually 

 hardening the plants as they acquire strength, 

 and giving occasional waterings. 



In the third method — early kidney-beans may 

 be obtained with very little trouble at almost 

 any time in winter or spring, by raising them 

 in pots, or long narrow trough-like boxes, about 

 two or three feet Jong and eight or ten inches 

 broad at top, placing them any where in the 

 lower part of the hot-house ; when the plants 

 will succeed. 



The proper kinds for this purpose are : the early 

 white, yellow, and dun-coloured dwarfs, the 

 latter being ratlier a preferable bearer, continuino- 

 in longer production ; and the speckled dwarf 

 also succeeds very well, and continues lono- in 

 bearing in this mode of culture. 



In respect to the method of management in 

 these cases, any time in winter or early in sprino^, 

 some large pots (sixteens or twenty-fours) or 

 boxes may be filled with light rich earth, and 

 placed in the hot-house, some being arranged 

 upon the top of the surrounding wall of the 

 bark-bed, and on the top of the front flues to- 

 wards the upright glasses, and in other similar 

 convenient situations as room may admit, 

 planting in each pot four beans, near an inch 

 deep ; or, if boxes, along the middle, in a sort of 

 double row, triangular-ways, about four inches 

 asunder, and the above depth : they soon germi- 

 nate, and in a few days appear above ground : 

 when they begin to sprout, it is proper to 

 moisten the mould with a little water, which 

 facilitates the protrusion of the plants out of the 

 earth. 



Their after-culture is very easy :^when they 

 are come up, frequent waterings should be 

 given, as three times a week, as the earth dries 

 very fast. It should always be kept moderately 

 moist, in order that the plants may blossom free- 

 ly and produce a plentiful crop, which is often 

 in as great perfection as in the full-ground. 



As in the other crops, they should be gathered 

 often ; as it is the way to continue the plants 

 long in a bearing state. 



A regular succession of early young crops of 

 these beans may be obtained in this w^ay two 

 or three months, by repeated sowings at the in- 

 terval of about three weeks, so as to have youno- 

 plants advancing in pots or boxes in two or three 

 dilferent degrees of growth succccdin"- each 

 other. 



Where there is not much stove-room, it may 

 be proper to plant the beans for succession crops 

 in small pots (forty-eights), tliree beans in each; 

 and as these take up but little room, they may 

 be stowed any where close together, or between 

 the other larger pots : the plants will come up 



