Pole, or Running, and Dwarf Beans 47 



seriously threatened by the attack of the asparagus 

 beetle. The twelve-spotted asparagus beetle is also an 

 enemy, but does no serious damage. 



The tender shoots which put forth with the first 

 advent of spring are the parts used. These are boiled 

 and served with butter on toast, or boiled and seasoned 

 with butter and served as other vegetables are. It is 

 also very popular served in soups. It has valuable 

 medicinal properties and is often prescribed by physi- 

 cians on account of its diuretic properties. Common salt 

 is supposed to be especially beneficial to asparagus, since 

 its native habitat is along the seacoast. This is 

 indicated also by analysis, which shows a large percen- 

 tage of sodium and chlorine. Nitrogen is especially ini- 

 portant, since its most important office in the plant 

 economy is to increase the growth of the stalk and 

 leaves, thus forcing forward the part for which this vege- 

 table is cultivated. A supply of humus is necessary to 

 keep the soil over the crowns porous. 



BEANS 



I 



These are annual legumes that have been grown for 

 their edible pods or shelled beans, both green and 

 dry, by English-speaking people for four hundred years. 

 Those which are grown for their edible pods are known 

 as snap or string beans. 



Some varieties of these are pole or running beans, 

 while others have a dwarf or bunch habit of growth. 

 Varieties are numerous. One seedsman catalogues thirty- 

 two varieties of snap beans alone. The Valentine, of 



