154 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



superphosphate and 3 to 4 cwt. kainit in the autumn and 2 cwt. 

 nitrate of soda to the acre in the spring giving excellent results. 

 It is wise to vary the fertilizers by sometimes supplying their 

 equivalent from other sources. In some cases, particularly on. 

 very light soils, the application of salt may be beneficial, though 

 as a rule a dressing of kainit will supply all the salt necessary. 

 When salt is given it should be in two or three light dressings 

 at intervals of two or three weeks from the middle of April. 



Varieties : There is little to choose amongst the supposed 

 different varieties, culture and soil being responsible for most 

 of the differences existing. Connover's Collossal or Early 

 Purple Argenteuil will be found to give as satisfactory results 

 as any other variety. 



BEANS (BROAD). 



Vicia Fab a. 



THE Broad Bean is a very accommodating and easily 

 grown plant, which will thrive in almost any kind of 

 soil but is most partial to one which is strong, deep, and 

 moist. For a heavy crop of fine pods deep cultivation and 

 generous manuring are necessary. It is quite hardy and may 

 be sown in the autumn with safety, and is frequently used in 

 this way to afford protection to other early crops of a more 

 tender nature. Considering its usefulness in this respect, com- 

 bined with its productive nature and the comparatively short 

 time it occupies the ground it is a profitable crop to grow, and 

 is indispensable where the business of supplying shopkeepers 

 or consumers direct is carried on. 



For the earliest crops it is customary to make a sowing of 

 one of the varieties of Long-pods in November, but unless the 

 winter proves exceptionally mild there is usually very little 

 time gained by sowing in autumn, and what advantage there 

 may be in this respect is often counter-balanced by losses 

 from various causes. When sowing is deferred until after the 

 turn of the year there is also the advantage of leaving the 

 ground which would otherwise be occupied by the seed ridged 

 up, so as to get pulverized and sweetened by the weather. In 



