384 The Principles of Vegetable -Gardening 



pod and beans together being eaten. There are certain 

 strains of bush beans that are particularly adapted to 

 this use. They are such as have thick and fleshy pods, 

 with very little fibrous tissue on the sutures. The pods 

 of a good string bean are those which have no "strings." 

 The pods snap cleanly in two, and this gives rise to the 

 common term of " snap " beans. In order that string 

 beans may be of the best quality, they should make a 



Fig. 116. Seedlings of wax bean. Two-thirds natural size. 



rapid and continuous growth. The soil should be rich 

 and in excellent tilth. Plant only after the weather has 

 become thoroughly settled. In late summer, plant again 

 for fall use. A succession may be had all summer. 

 Although beans are nitrogen - gathering plants, it is 

 nevertheless advisable to apply a little nitrogen at the 

 start on land which is not well supplied with humus or 

 in which beans have not been grown within a year or two. 

 There are other types of garden beans used as "shell" 

 beans. The large, soft seeds are used just before they 



