242 



GARDENING FOR THE SOUTH. 



beans to a hill. Keep them clean always and tlie soil 

 light and mellow with the hoe. Draw the earth carefully 

 about their stems when about to flower, making broad low 

 hills to protect the roots from heat and drought. If well 

 cultivated the same plants will continue to bear well a 

 long time. Do not hoe any of the kidney beans whether 

 dwarf or runners when the foliage is wet, as the plants 

 will rust and be greatly injured, if not destroyed. Choose 

 dry weather for working them. For saving seed and use, 

 see " Lima Bean." 



Phaseol'iis Limensis ct Multijiorus — Pole or Running 

 Beans. 



The Phaseolus Multiflorus includes the Scarlet Runners, 

 London Horticultural, and many other good varieties, but 

 they do not continue long enough in bearing to wan*ant 

 their culture in a hot climate. The Lima beans are also 

 much better flavored. Of the Phaseolus Limensis, there 

 are the green and white Lima and Carolina Sewee. They 

 are natives of South America. The white Lima is not 

 quite so large as the green, but bearing with greater 

 abundance, is to be preferred. It is also not quite so 

 hardy and productive as the Sewee, but is much larger 

 and richer flavored. 



Sewee or Carolina. — This is the well-known and favor- 

 ite butter bean of the country. It closely resembles the 

 Lima bean, but is less in size, earlier, harder, and bears 

 much more abundantly, and though not quite so rich, is 

 for general culture the best running bean for this climate. 



Culture. — Lima beans require a rich, strong soil, and 

 will thrive on heavy loams, where the other running beans 

 and snaps would not flourish. They are still- more tender 

 than snaps, and should not be planted until settled warm 

 weather, as the seed will rot in cool weather, and the 



