THE GROWING OF VEGETABLES 



179 



Asparagus may also be propagated by seeds, but this method 

 requires two to four years to make the first crop. 



The most injurious enemy of asparagus is the rust disease, 

 and no satisfactory remedy has yet been found. Two varieties 

 are popular. Palmetto and 

 C o n V e r Colossal (Fig. 

 103). The latter is perhaps 

 more resistant to rust. 



Beans. — There aj-e 

 many different kinds ajid 

 varieties of beans. They are 

 all annuals, and so tender 

 that they cannot withstand 

 frost. Seeds should be 

 planted in the open garden 

 after all spring frosts are 

 over. Light, warm garden 

 soils are the best. All gar- 

 den sorts are grown in rows 

 3% to 4 ft. apart, and in the 

 rows may be either in drills 

 or in hills. The seeds have 

 strong germinating power 

 and may be planted two to 

 three inches deep, with the 

 soil well firmed over the row 

 after planting. Beans may tj^d to sell 

 be divided by the nature of '°°8- 



the plants into two groups : (1) Bush beans; (3) pole or climb- 

 ing beans. As to use, they may be divided into: (1) Dried 

 beans used for cooking after they are ripe and cured; (3) 

 shelled beans, such as limas, the beans being shelled from the 

 pods before cooking; (3) snap or string beans, the entire pod 

 and contents being cooked and eaten. 



For school gardens, snap beans will prove most popular. 



Fig. 102. 



— Colossal asparagus is a good 

 Here the stalks are 12 inches 



