HOME VEGETABLE GARDENING 



THE CULTIVATION OF BEANS 



ASA descendant of natives of India and arid Amer- 

 ** ica, beans need cultivation more than watering. 

 As soon as the young plants develop the second pair of 

 leaves, start to hoe them, pulling the soil slightly toward 

 the rows. After every shower go over the patch with 

 a handhoe or wheelhoe to break up the crust forming 

 on soil, but never work over bean plants while leaves are 

 wet with dew or rain. It spreads rust a fungous disease 

 that badly marks the pods and foliage with ugly brown 

 spots and eventually causes the plant to die. 



Weeding, hoeing, and hilling are the three main needs 

 of beans. The principal reasons for hilling them are that 

 it puts an extra deep dust mulch around the base of 

 plants and it supports the plants, thus keeping pods off 

 the ground. If an extra long drought retards develop- 

 ment of the plants and watering becomes necessary, put 

 the water between the rows, next to the plants, but do not 

 wet the plants. The roots need the moisture. 



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