The Bean 



343 



135. Seedlings of wax bean (X ^z^). 



ently thrive best in regions tempered by the. sea: Inocu- 

 lation of the land is desirable, with soil in which a good 

 crop has been grown. 



The amateur may 

 start plants under 

 glass and transplant 

 to the open ; but usu- 

 ally the seeds are 

 sown where the 

 plants are to stand, 

 at the earliest mo- 

 ment in spring. If 

 to be used as green or shell beans, care must be taken that 

 the pods do not become hard. 



The rows may be 2 to 3 feet apart; the plants may stand 

 4 to 6 inches. The varieties mostly known with us are 

 Broad Windsor, Mazagan, Sword Long-pod. The beans 

 should be ready for use in late spring and summer. 

 There are many varieties, differing greatly in size of pod 

 and in size and shape of seed. These plants as a class are 



sometimes known as "horse 

 beans." 



The Common Garden Bean 



The common bean is grown 

 in two general types : the bush 

 bean and the pole bean. In 

 North America the bush bean 

 is by far the more important 

 since its growing obviates the labor and expense of provid- 

 ing support on which the plants may climb. Bush beans 



136. Dutch case-knife bean 

 (somewhat enlarged). 



