342 GATHERING, STORING AND PACKING 



BROAD BEANS 



Are in season from June until August or later, but 

 in gardens the earlier supply is most relished, as this 

 Bean in hot weather soon hardens and has a rough 

 taste. It will be found advisable to gather the pods 

 when they are only small, say a little more than half 

 grown. Cooked at this stage they are wholesome 

 and delicious. Another way to make the larger Bean 

 more palatable and remove the rough taste so much 

 disliked is to skin the Beans. By removing the outer 

 skin the Bean is sweeter and more tender. Of course 

 for market it would not be profitable to gather the 

 pods in the small state advised and they would also 

 suffer if placed in bulk in a tender state. This shows 

 the advantage of home-grown supplies. If quantities of 

 green vegetables are placed in bulk they heat and are 

 not good for food. To keep the pods after gathering 

 place them in a dark cool shed on the floor thinly 

 and lightly damp the pods over daily. Treated thus 

 they will keep a week without loss of flavour. Broad 

 Beans may be had earlier by forcing, and grown thus 

 they are well worth the labour and cost entailed. 



BEETROOT. 



The Globe-shaped Beetroot being of more rapid 

 growth does not keep so long as the others, but the roots 

 may be had good during summer. It is not advisable to 

 grow them for winter supplies as they should not be 



