FORCING POLE BEANS UNDER GLASS 



BY FRANK WM. RANE 



The forcing of dwarf or bush beans under glass has been a 

 favorite practice at certain seasons of the year with most gar- 

 deners. The forcing of the pole or. running varieties, I have 

 reason to believe, has never heretofore received attention. 



During the winter season of i896-'97 a first trial was made 

 which proved fairly successful with one variety. The following 

 season, iS^^-'^S, two more crops were grown, both of which 

 proved very interesting and T believe of sufficient value to 

 merit attention. 



The pole bean, like cucumbers, tomatoes trained to one 

 stem, sweet corn, etc., must have plenty of headroom or space 

 above the bench or bed in which to develop. Doubtless this 

 accounts for its not having been considered before. The 

 modern lettuce and cucumber house with the beds directly on 

 the ground are well adapted for this crop. The house 

 described for sweet corn in Bulletin 60 of this station, of which 

 a cut is also given, is well suited to force pole beans. 



73^^ 5<9// should be well enriched, containing an abundance 

 of available plant food. That used by us was a sandy loam 

 composted by mixing equal parts of rich dark loam, sand, and 

 manure. The beds were directly upon the ground and the 

 prepared soil averaged about seven inches in depth. The sub- 

 soil was loosened up to about an equal depth before the other 

 was put in, thus giving a seed bed of fairly good mechanical 

 condition. 



Sowing- and Transplanting. By soaking the seed much 

 time is gained on account of its earlier germination. It is 

 usually an advantage also to start the seed in flower pots and 

 from here to transplant into the permanent beds; in so doing 

 the previous crop can be given more time and as space in a 



