io6 



MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



An occasional spraying does no harm, but in general it is best 

 to water with a solid stream and see that the soil is thoroughly- 

 wet. 



Fig. 5. Beans Ready for Market. 



Growth should be continuous and rapid from the first. A 

 little nitrate of soda, say once a week, after the blossoms appear, 

 will not be amiss. This may be applied in water as described 

 for lettuce. 



The crop should all come off within a few days — three or 

 four pickings — so it is important to have the succeeding crop 

 well advanced, that little time may be lost. 



The essentials of a good forcing bean are that it should be 

 of compact habit, early maturity, and that there should be an 

 abundance of long, straight cylindrical pods. Sion House is 

 perhaps the best variety for forcing, though Refugee and Ne 

 Plus Ultra have done well. Most of the wax varieties are too 

 unsymmetrical and too susceptible to disease. 



For marketing, the pods are tied in bunches of fifty, as shown 

 In figure 5. These bunches should bring fifteen to twenty-five 

 cents each. At this price the crop is profitable. 



