BEANS 



275 



have the rows three or four feet apart, and the plants two or three 

 feet apart in the rows. Like asparagus the first crop can be taken 

 in two years from setting time. The plants should never be 

 allowed to go to seed, and should have annual applications of 

 good manure, to produce strong, succulent growth. 



The stalks must be blanched for table use. This is done by 

 mulching with coarse litter, or covering the plant with a box or 

 flower pot, or something that will exclude all the light. 



Beans are annual plants and must be grown after the last 

 spring frost and before the first frost of fall. Succession plantings 

 may be made, and the season prolonged in the case of "snap 

 beans." 



FIG. 184. Bush-lima beans in a young peach orchard. The crop pays for itself and 

 for the tillage of the orchard. The beans gather nitrogen from the air and improve the soil. 

 (New Jersey Station.) 



One pint will plant nearly 100 feet. If planted by the acre 

 for commercial purposes it will require from one and a half to two 

 bushels per acre of seed. 



Beans are used in different stages of development, as "snap" 

 beans where the entire green, succulent pod is cooked in various 

 ways. Others are shelled and eaten green, as Lima beans, called 

 ' 'butter beans" in some localities. Still other varieties are allowed 

 to become entirely mature and are shelled and stored to be used 

 in the dry state in winter. 



There are some dwarf and climbing varieties of each type, and 

 every taste may be suited in growing beans. Each gardener must 



