HOME VEGETABLE GARDENING 



GATHERING THE CROP 



T)EAN plants will bear surprisingly large crops if 

 -* properly handled and cared for. They will greatly 

 reward the diligent gardener for any extra labor and care 

 bestowed upon them. Sometimes, in particularly rich 

 soil, the plants will be so large that they crowd each 

 other in the rows and spread sideways. In such cases, 

 drive short, stout stakes, ten feet apart, along the row and 

 connect them with strings on both sides of row. This 

 will make gathering easier and prevent injury to plants 

 while cultivating. 



Gather the pods while quite young, about four or five 

 inches long. They are of best quality then, and free 

 from fibre. Do not jerk the plants while gathering, but 

 sever the stems of pods with finger nails. Gather fre- 

 quently the oftener you pick pods and prevent seeds 

 from forming in them, the longer will the plants bear. 

 Never pick beans while vines are wet for reasons given 

 under "cultivation." 



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