Gardening for Amateurs 



1045 



the growths when the cutting ceases, as upon 

 these depends the next season's crop. One 

 of the best manures for the purpose is a 

 good quality of fish guano. Use at the 

 rate of 3 to 4 ounces per square yard twice 

 during the growing season. Immediately 

 the growths are ripe in autumn cut them 

 down and burn them. 



Bean, Broad. To secure a very early 

 crop of these autumn planting is usually 

 resorted to. Seville is the variety chosen for 

 this purpose. What are known as Longpod 

 sorts are generally planted in February and 

 March, as soon as the ground is fit to receive 

 the Beans. Plant in single lines 2 feet apart, 

 having the Beans 5 or 6 inches apart. Just 

 a word on planting these and the other kinds 

 of Beans. They can all be put in with a 

 dibber, and no smallholder should try the 

 plan of opening up trenches with a spade for 

 any of these crops. 



Bean, Dwarf. Those Avho possess warm, 

 early land may do worse than plant a few 

 rows of this crop. Plant early sorts, such 

 as Early Prolific or Osborn's. Canadian 

 Wonder, though large and a heavy cropper, 

 is not quick enough for early market work. 

 The plants require land in good condition, 

 and it will be found that one or tAvo doses of 

 nitrate of soda will help to hasten the swell- 

 ing process when the pods are forming. 

 Plant out in April and May in rows 2 feet 

 apart, the Beans 3 or 4 inches asunder. Late 

 crops are sometimes planted, and are found 

 profitable in most seasons. Plant out in 

 June for a late crop. 



Bean, Runner. The market for these 

 is too frequently glutted, and the crop, 

 speaking generally, is not an encouraging 

 one. GroAvers with warm land on sunny 

 slopes in early districts usually do Avell Avith 

 the early gatherings. First pickings have 

 been kno\vn to realise 15s. to 21s. per 40-lb. 

 hamper. But later in the season the Beans 

 may only realise 4d. to 6d. per 40-lb. bag. 

 The pickers want 4d. or 5d. for gathering, 

 so that the grower in a time of over-supply 

 gets little for himself. Plant out in May in 

 rows 3 feet apart, the Beans being put in 

 at 5 or 6 inches from each other. When 

 Brussels Sprouts are to be put betAveen, the 

 Beans are planted 4 feet apart in the rows. 

 .Summer treatment consists of keeping the 



plants free from weeds and pinching the 

 running growths. By continually pinching 

 the growths small bush -like plants are 

 formed Avhich produce enormous crops \vhen 

 Avell grown. In this way sticks are not a 

 necessity for these climbing Beans. 



Beetroot. This is a most useful crop for 

 the smallholder if he is near a market. It 

 requires land that has been made good for 



Prize-winner Runner Bean trained over 

 rough trellis. 



a previous crop ; for instance, it may folloAV 

 Sprouts or Spring Cabbage. Beyond thin- 

 ning the plants and hoeing them, scarcely 

 any attention is required until lifting time. 

 Should the market prove adverse to the 

 grower he can store the roots in pits or in 

 a cellar in much the same way that Potatoes 

 are stored until a favourable opportunity. 

 The roots must be carefully lifted and 

 handled, so that the roots do not get broken. 

 The round Beetroot is not a favourite in the 



