French Beans. 



157 



carefully guard against cold draughts. As growth advances 

 gradually treat them more hardily, until by the middle of May 

 they may be completely exposed during the day but must be 

 covered at night for a week or two longer. Plenty of water is 

 necessary. Picking should commence soon after the middle 

 of June. A still earlier crop may be obtained if seed is sown 

 on a mild hot-bed early in March and the plants carefully lifted 

 and set in their permanent quarters during mild weather about 

 the end of the month. 



^^ For a successional crop 



to follow the above, but 

 earlier than one grown 

 entirely in the open, seed 

 should be sown, 2in. apart 

 both ways, early in April, 

 in one or two cold frames, 

 which should stand in a 

 sunny position and be 

 covered each night with 

 mats to exclude frost. As 

 soon as the seedlings are 

 showing give a little air on 

 all favourable occasions, 

 and as the plants grow 

 gradually but carefully 

 give them more exposure. 

 At the beginning of May 

 the lights may be removed altogether during fine days, and by 

 the second week, if the weather is mild, they may be set out in 

 in a sheltered position in the open. They should be lifted with 

 a ball of soil at the roots, and the soil in which they are set 

 should be light, rich, and sufficiently moist to dispense with 

 watering until the roots are working again. Shade from sun 

 for a few days is advisable, and protection from frost at nights 

 must be given for a week or two. 



Sowing in the open may be done in the last week of April 

 and the first week of May, and for a late crop in the first week 

 of July. The earliest sowings may be made between rows of 

 cos lettuce, spring cabbage, and similar crops which will afford 



Copyright, S. & S. 



Dwarf French Bean. 



