THE 
GARDEN YARD 166 
Pea cultivation was recorded two thousand 
years ago. : 
BEANS. 
All the well-known varieties of garden beans 
are tender to frost, needing a warm season and 
a sunny exposure. The seed is not sown until 
the weather is thoroughly settled and the soil 
in excellent tilth ; then it is sown where the plants 
aretostand. The favorites in this country are the 
dwarfs; the chief advantage of the dwarf types 
is the saving of expense in supports, and the 
greater ease of cultivation. The early crop is 
usually eaten as string beans, though the best 
“string”? bean is the kind that has no “strings 
to it.” This variety breaks off with a clean 
snap and is often known as “snap” bean. 
Beans that are well suited to be eaten as string 
beans have thick, fleshy pods and very little 
fibrous tissue. In order that string beans may 
be of the best quality, the crop must make a 
quick and uninterrupted growth. A succession 
of beans may be had all summer by planting at 
intervals, and late in the summer season a new 
crop may be planted for late fall use. String 
beans are always in demand; and now, because 
of the southern crops, the markets of large cities 
are seldom without them all the year around. 
