208 BEANS 



beans are sometimes transplanted. In this case the seeds must 

 be planted on inverted sods or in dirt bands (see chapter on trans- 

 planting), to avoid disturbing the roots when the plants are moved. 

 The plants are allowed to grow in the hotbeds for only about three 

 weeks, for they quickly reach transplanting size. The transplant- 

 ing method is seldom employed except for the large-seeded pole 

 varieties. This type is also sometimes manured in the hills, in 

 order to stimulate rapid groAvth and increase the yield. 



Pole Limas are normally planted in hills about four feet apart 



Fig. 126. — Plantation of pole Lima beans. 



each way, and a pole placed at each hill to support the vines (Fig. 

 126). In regions where native timber is abundant, the poles are 

 usually slender hickory or oak saplings from seven to nine feet 

 long, with the bark left on. These are sharpened at the base, where 

 they are usually about one and one-half inches in diameter, and 

 are either placed where the hills are to stand, before the seeds 

 are planted, or inserted after the plants are up but before they 

 begin to run. The latter method makes early tillage more conveni- 

 ent, and also saves time during the busy planting season. In 



