DWARF BEANS 69 



If the seed is sown early in April, the crop will give 

 an early July supply, another sowing made, say, four 

 weeks later will give a succession, and another sowing 

 in June will give a later supply. A still later sowing 

 may be made for an early autumn supply, and from 

 May till July there will be no doubts as to the seed 

 germinating, so that ample room should be given the 

 seed ; and though it may be well to sow more thickly 

 than the plants can remain, it is an easy matter to thin 

 the seedlings when it is seen which are the strongest. 



Varieties and Culture. — For early crops the small-podded 

 varieties are best, being earlier ; one of the earliest beans 

 to show blossom and mature being Syon House, a good 

 flavoured variety. Ne Plus Ultra also is very good, and 

 produces freely. This bears a small, thin, green pod, has 

 dwarf habits, and is a great cropper. For later cropping 

 there are some beautiful types, such as Progress (see 

 illustration), Triumph; Perfection, Long Sword, and 

 many others. Indeed, it is difficult to give a selection, 

 there are so many good kinds. Some in different locali- 

 ties have different names, and I note a few to show the 

 best type for summer use. For May and June sowing, 

 the larger Canadian Wonder is a very fine variety. 

 This gives larger pods than any of the former, but I 

 should add that no matter what the variety, the crop 

 should be gathered regularly, and none allowed to get 

 old, as the plant soon fails to crop if allowed to ripen or 

 carry old pods. I have touched upon the needs of the 

 plant as regards food and moisture. Few plants will 

 absorb more food ; they delight in a rich root-run of good 

 decayed manure. This placed liberally in the bottom 

 of the trench or drill will do much good in hot, dry 

 summers, and if the plants are given liquid manure fre- 

 quently, so much the better. They delight in overhead 

 waterings in the evening after a hot summer day. This 

 will do more good to keep them free of red spider than 



