VEGETABLES — DESCRIPTION AND CULTUKE. 177 



Carolina or Butter bean closely resembles the white 

 Lima, but is smaller, earlier, hardier, and bears much more 

 abundantly, and though not quite so rich, is for general 

 culture the best running bean. 



"Wood-ashes and bone-dust, or superphosphate of lime, 

 will supply the soil with the most necessary elements for 

 the bean crop, which, by the way, like most legumes, 

 draws most of its sustenance from the atmosphere. 



Culture. — As beans are very easily destroyed by spring 

 frosts, there is no use in planting the main crop too early. 

 A few of the Extra Early or Mohawk may be planted at 

 the same time with early corn, and if there is danger, 

 protect them when they come up, by placing wide planks 

 over the rows an inch or two above the plants, supported 

 on blocks or bricks every cold night. The main early crop 

 is planted in Georgia the last of March, or early in April ; 

 at New York City, about the first of May. Planting 

 may continue until about eight weeks before the autumn 

 frosts occur. The soil for the early crop should be dry 

 and light ; if wet or tenacious, the seed often decays with- 

 out germinating, or comes up spindling and unproductive. 

 For the summer-sown crop, a soil slightly moist, but still 

 inclining to a sand, is to be preferred. 



Plant in drills eighteen inches or two feet apart, and 

 the seed two inches apart in the row. Cover the seeds 

 about an inch and a half deep. A pint of seed will plant 

 about one hundred and twenty-five feet of rows. When 

 the plants come up, thin them gradually to six or eight 

 inches in the row, and they will be much more vigorous 

 and productive. The Late Yalentine does best in hills 

 eighteen inches apart. Plant four or five beans to a hill. 

 Keep them always clean, and the 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 a long time. Do 

 8* 



