392 HORTICULTURAL MANUAL. 



way. The gain in bedding is that the cross-fertilization 

 of the flowers favors the setting of the fruits and increases 

 the size. If set in single rows, it often happens that the 

 blossoms are not properly pollinated, and it seems inca- 

 pable of self-pollination. If not pollinated, the fruits will 

 develop partially, but never attain proper size, and very 

 many of the blossoms will not develop fruits. 



When of full size the fruits are as large as small 

 squashes ("Figs. 106 and 107), but they can be used to 

 about as good advantage when half grown. It is a 

 standard vegetable over a large portion of Europe and Asia 

 and in the South, and as shipped in over the Northern 

 States. But outside of cities it is not as yet commonly 

 grown in gardens. 



397. The Lima Bean. The Lima, pole, and dwarf 

 beans have properly been called the king of the table 

 beans in all countries. But over the Northern States, 

 even at the West, where the Lima beans succeed most 

 perfectly, the dried commercial Limas grown at Santa 

 Barbara, California, and at other points, are mainly used. 

 But those who enjoy the home-grown beans fresh from 

 the garden will fully agree with the writer that it is one 

 of the most delicious vegetables of the garden and one of 

 the most healthful of the nitrogenous "oods. 



As not a very large number of hills will supply an 

 average family with the large Lima variety, it pays to 

 plant the beans in pieces of sods with the eye downward, 

 starting them in the hot-bed quite late. By transplanting 

 the sods with beans attached when the ground gets warm, 

 the crop will be advanced fully two weeks. In place of 

 poles we have used woven wire five feet wide, supported 

 by stakes along the line of row. The beans spread out on 

 this support, and if the wire is grounded at the ends it 

 appears to increase the thrift and yield of the plants. At 



