232 THE HOME ACRE. 



not necessary. Sow the seed from the first to the 

 fifteenth of September, so as to give the plants time 

 to become half grown by winter. Cover the seeds 

 three to an inch two inches deep, and pack 

 the ground well over them ; let the rows be three 

 inches apart. When the plants are three inches 

 high, thin out to three inches apart, and keep the 

 soil clean and mellow about them. Just before 

 hard freezing weather, scatter about three inches 

 of straw, old pea-vines, or some light litter over 

 the whole bed. As soon as the days begin to 

 grow warm in spring, and hard frost ceases, rake 

 this off. The hardy vegetable begins to grow at 

 once, and should be cut for use so as to leave the 

 plants finally six inches apart, for as fast as space 

 is given, the plants fill it up. By those who are 

 fond of spinach it may be sown in spring as soon 

 as the frost is out. It quickly runs to seed in hot 

 weather, and thinnings of young beets may take 

 its place where space is limited. The Round or 

 Summer is good for fall or spring planting. 



Those who need much instruction in regard to 

 bush-beans should remain in the city and raise 

 cats in their paved back yards. We shall only 

 warn against planting too early, not before the 

 last of April in our region. It does not take much 

 frost to destroy the plants, and if the soil is cold 

 and wet, the beans decay instead of coming up. If 



