BEANS. 57 



and fifteen inches in diameter. A circular drill is 

 opened on this hill about an inch deep. Six Beans 

 are planted, at equal distances apart, in this drill, 

 always placing the eye of the Bean downward. This 

 is an important fact to bear in mind, as the Lima 

 Bean rises from the ground in this position. When 

 the Beans are in position, a light covering of fine soil 

 should be drawn over them. 



One quart of Lima Beans will plant about three 

 hundred hills, allowing six or seven Beans to each 

 hill. The same quantity of the Case-Knife or of the 

 Horticultural Cranberry will plant a hundred hills 

 more, owing to their being a smaller-sized Bean. It 

 is always best to use fresh seed ; that which was 

 grown the previous season is preferable, although 

 Beans two years old will germinate. 



When the young plants are two or three inches 

 above ground they should be thinned out, leaving 

 only three plants to a hill. In field-culture, the work- 

 ing between the rows is done by horse-tools ; run- 

 ning the cultivator both ways leaves very little to be 

 done with the hand-hoe. When the vines are two 

 feet long, it is best to go through the patch and 

 fasten up those that are not inclined to twine around 

 the poles. The Lima Bean always winds around the 

 pole in the same direction ; that is, from west to 

 east, or in the apparent opposite direction from the 

 movement of the sun. 



When the vines are six feet high the ends should 

 be pinched off. This will cause them to throw out 

 long side-shoots, that will yield a bountiful supply of 

 large pods, hanging within easy reach for gathering. 



