52 VEGECULTURE 



French Beans lend themselves very readily to forcing. A 

 good plan is to sow a few seeds every week or fortnight, so that 

 a succession may be relied on, in four-inch pots (five seeds in each) , 

 and then to shift them on into larger pots in which to bear 

 pods. Any old potting soil will serve, and a little old manure 

 should be added when putting the Beans into their fruiting 

 pots. A temperature of sixty degrees forms a good forcing 

 heat. It is imperative that the Beans be freely exposed to 

 light, that they be well syringed to keep them free from red 

 spider, and that they be supported by twiggy sticks as soon as 

 they are needed. If a greenhouse is not available for the pur- 

 pose, a heated frame will serve the purpose admirably. Nc 

 Plus Ultra is an old variety which may be thoroughly depended 

 on. The climbing French Bean is also good for forcing, but 

 not for those with limited accommodation. 



It must not be supposed that the ordinary Runner and Dwarf 

 Beans exhaust the list of these vegetables, for there are many 

 others, quite distinct, in shape, flavour, and natural charac- 

 teristics, and which are extensively used in the country to which 

 they are native. Many of these have been introduced into 

 France, and have found favour there, but have not made much 

 headway in Britain. To mention some of them, there are : 

 The LIMA BEAN (PJiascolus lunatus) ; the DOLICHOS, an orna- 

 mental species, grown in conservatories, with beautiful blue 

 flowers ; the ASPARAGUS BEAN (Dolichos sesquipedalis) ; the 

 LABLAB or EGYPTIAN BEAN (Lablab vulgar is) ; besides Chinese, 

 Canadian, Algerian, Bulgarian, Japanese, New Zealand, and 

 Mexican species. 



THE BROAD BEAN (Faba vulgaris or Vicia faba). This 

 Bean is a vegetable of great antiquity, and one of the first to 

 come into use in the earlier portion of the year. Broad Beans 

 like a deep, rich, strong, even heavy soil ; a liberal dressing 

 of manure should be applied to light soils. If sown early, the 

 first gatherings may be made by June; and to secure this, 

 sowings may be made either in October, November, and 

 December during mild weather ; or, failing that, the seeds may 

 be sown in pots or boxes under glass or in a frame and the plants 

 placed in their intended stations when of fair size. Ordinary 

 sowings for main-crop purposes are made in February and 

 March ; and, if a succession is wanted, in April and May. Many 

 gardeners will have noticed that some of the seeds often the 



