BEANS 39 



The Broad Bean needs less care ; it is hardy, very 

 accommodating as to soil and position, and is in per- 

 fection in the early summer. It may be forced, at least 

 it does well in pots at the start. The Runner is more 

 tender than any ; if the seed is sown too early it is 

 injured and the young plants are soon crippled by frost. 

 Dwarf Beans. These are also known as French 

 or Kidney Beans, and few vegetables are more pro- 

 fitable when well grown. They are not fastidious and 

 prefer good though light soil. Those who have 

 a heavy clay soil to deal with can easily make it 

 lighter by incorporating with it such materials as 

 burnt garden refuse, old mortar, leaf mould, road 

 scrapings and wood ashes. Another satisfactory plan 

 is to dig deeply, and manure freely ; in a holding soil 

 the grower reaps some benefit in summer as, if the 

 weather is dry, the crop lasts longer. For the 

 first crop sown in the open there can be no better 

 position than a warm, well-drained, south border. 

 Earliness in most gardens is a great gain, but only 

 grow a small quantity compared to the later sowings 

 which require an open quarter. Both the French and 

 Runner Beans (especially the first named) are sown 

 much too thickly ; it is impossible for them to thrive 

 under such conditions. There is some excuse for 

 sowing the first lot thickly, as, owing to our peculiar 

 climate, we cannot depend on the seed germinating, 

 but it is an easy matter to thin out the seedlings once 

 they are in vigorous growth. In many gardens an 

 early crop may be secured by sowing under glass and 



