66 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



the best for all soils ; it is valuable for shallow soils and 

 early supplies. Another very good small early bean 

 is Beck's Dwarf Green Gem, which is very prolific and 

 hardy. 



Dwarf Beans 



This is a popular summer vegetable, and most valu- 

 able for supplies from June to October. The best 

 use is not always made of the dwarf bean. In some 

 gardens one or two sowings suffice, whereas if the 

 same or very little more seed were spread over half-a- 

 dozen sowings made at different dates, the results would 

 be better in every way. I am aware that, to do this 

 vegetable justice, it should get rich soil and ample 

 moisture during growth, as lack of moisture is the 

 forerunner of red spider, and the plants fail to set the 

 flowers. As regards soils and situation, the best 

 position is an open one, selecting a light loamy soil, 

 not too clayey or wet ; for the first crop a warm border 

 under a south wall is the best. Much can be done to 

 forward an early crop by sowing under glass and then 

 planting out, but I will not dwell upon this work. No 

 matter what the part of the country, it should be borne 

 in mind that the dwarf bean is by no means hardy, and 

 that there must be sufficient warmth in the soil to 

 germinate the seed. It is not a British plant, and very 

 early sowing, especially in heavy soils, will often fail. 

 The proper season varies. In the south I have sown 

 early in April, but the middle of the month is generally 

 full early, and the end in later seasons or on heavy soils. 

 On the other hand, it well repays the cultivator to 

 make the soil suitable for the first sowing, as it is 

 not thrown away for other things which require a 

 light soil. It is an easy matter to cover the seed with 

 any light soil after sowing, and in cold, wet weather 

 early in the spring, land well drained should be selected. 



