KIDNEY BEAN. 133 



are set in the drills from two to three inches apart : 

 and their future culture will consist principally in 

 keeping the ground clear from weeds, and when the 

 plants have fully expanded their first rough leaves, 

 in drawing up some earth on each side of them to 

 strengthen and prevent them from being much 

 shaken by the wind. 



For successional crops, the primnm of gardening, 

 a few rows, more or less, according to the wants of 

 the family, should be sown about every three weeks 

 from the end of May to the first week in August, 

 the last sowing to be the small Negro variety, which 

 will continue till the first sharp frost in October. 

 Should the ground be dry at the time necessary for 

 sowing any of the intermediate crops, the seed may 

 be soaked in water for a night, or the drills well 

 moistened, when the seed is sown. This will acce- 

 lerate their growth, and produce more regular crops. 



Where a quantity of this vegetable is required, 

 either for pickling or preserving, if a few rows of 

 the Canterbury or Battersea variety are sown the 

 third week in May, they will come in at a more 

 early and proper season than those gathered from 

 the main crop for the purpose ; and the sooner they 

 are used after being gathered the better. 



In private gardens, where there are no hot-house, 

 pits, &c., the following method may be resorted to, 

 by which this desirable pulse may be obtained ten. 

 days or a fortnight earlier than those sown in the 

 open ground. A slight hot-bed should be made 

 about the third week in April, and covered five or 

 six inches with some light rich soil, over which one 

 or more handglasses must be set, according to the 

 K 3 



