200 VEGETABLES. 



in prepared trenches similar to peas. The first sowing should 

 be made early in May, and be followed by others at intervals 

 of a fortnight till the middle of June. The beans should be 

 planted singly, at about 4J inches apart, and half of them 

 pulled up when all are safe above ground, giving each plant 

 left nine inches in the row, with 2| feet between the rows. The 

 plants should receive a copious supply of water in dry weather, 

 giving weak liquid manure when the pods are swelling. If 

 the pods are too forward for the show, they must be removed 

 before they attain full size, so that those coming in at the 

 proper time may receive the full benefit of the vigour of the 

 plant. 



The points of merit are : (1.) Size; (2.) quality, young and 

 tender, and showing no fibre when broken aci-oss; and (3.) 

 appearance, smooth and equal in length and shape, and of a 

 bright green colour. 



THE KUXXEK BEAJ,'. 



Two fine exhibition varieties are Jubilee and Scarlet Cham- 

 pion. The cultivation of the runner is similar to that recom- 

 mended for the general crop of French Beans, except that long 

 stakes or a trellis should be provided for their support. The 

 pods should be thinned out, and never be allowed to get old 

 on the plant. The points of merit are the same as those in 

 the French Beans. 



THE BEET. 



There are many varieties of Beet, each raiser claiming supe- 

 riority for his special production. Carter's Perfection, Prag- 

 neU's Exhibition, and Frisby's Excelsior are among the best 

 for exhibition. Beet requires a light soil, free from vegetable 

 matter, to grow in, with some rich manure about a foot from 

 the surface. Seed should be sown in April and May, in drills 

 1 8 inches, and the plants thinned to nine inches apart. The 

 points of merit are: (1.) Size and smoothness of the root; 

 (2.) flesh crisp, free from fibre, and when 'cut the sap should 

 "bleed" or ooze; and (3.) colour dark with the circles wide 

 apart, and all of the same colour. 



