76 A HOME VEGETABLE-GARDEN 



uncertain that it is necessary to have at hand 

 means of protection. Therefore, the first full 

 planting of snap beans should be in rows. The 

 stakes with the garden line attached for marking 

 may be left with the line about a foot above the 

 row. Then when an unexpected cold night threat- 

 ens, newspapers may be laid over the line. By this 

 simple means, I have carried beans and other 

 tender plants safely through a long cold spell. 

 While it is well to have means at hand for pro- 

 tection against the frost and cold, it is best, as 

 a rule, to delay planting until warm, dry, settled 

 weather has really come. The tenderest varieties, 

 like the pole limas, should wait until "ten days 

 after corn planting time." 



Now for the planting. Soaking the beans in 

 warm water over night shortens the time neces- 

 sary for germination. Make the furrows for the 

 snap beans less than 2 inches deep. Even the 

 big limas should not be covered more than 2 

 inches. Scatter tobacco dust beneath the seeds. 

 Put a little hen-manure under the rows of the first 

 planting of snap beans. Place the beans 3 or 4 

 inches apart and stem side down, if you want the 

 fullest quickest germination. If the soil is very 

 heavy, cover more lightly. Do not forget to firm 

 the soil. 



After the weather is certainly warm and settled, 

 I like to put the plantings of bush beans in hills 

 big broad hills, 3 feet or more apart. Use a half 



