BEANS 43 



small pots, as the plants are then raised more quickly, 

 is the right plan for early forcing. For May and early 

 June supplies a good number of seeds may be sown 

 in small pots and then planted out in cold frames ; 

 the seed is sown early in March, and the planting 

 done a month later in rich soil ; the soil of an old 

 Cucumber bed does well. Plants grown thus give 

 welcome dishes before those in the open are ready. 

 Broad Beans. The Broad Bean is not so great 

 a favourite as the Dwarf French type, but much 

 depends on the variety, the way it is cooked and 

 other details not necessary to dwell upon. Those 

 who object to the peculiar flavour of this vegetable 

 should try it cooked in a much younger state, and 

 another way to get rid of the harsh flavour of older 

 Beans is to remove the skins before they are cooked. 

 This can be done when the pods are shelled. The 

 Green Windsor variety is the best flavoured of this 

 section, but, unfortunately is not the earliest, the 

 small, hardy Mazagan being in season before any 

 others, even the Early Longpod, but the last men- 

 tioned is the more productive. There are several 

 enormous podding varieties, such as the Mammoth, 

 and Carter's Leviathan, but it is unwise to grow 

 them in such quantities as the Green Windsor ; they 

 are valuable for exhibition, and their flavour is first 

 rate, but the crops are not large. Broad Beans are 

 so easily grown that very few cultural details are 

 required. They like a strong loamy soil, though they 

 will grow in a lighter one, but in this they are more 



