CORN. BEANS. SWEET POTATCES 



123 



Strung about six feet high, and another about six 

 inches from the ground — directly over the four- foot 

 row, with the beans planted as close together as 

 eighteen inches so as to take full advantage of this 

 trellis system. When the beans begin to run, binder 

 twine may be woven zigzag fashion between the two 

 wires to form a trellis for the bean vines to climb on. 



Some folks nip off the vine tips when they've 

 reached the top of the poles or wires — to check 

 growth and hasten the formation of beans. 



Limas may be forced by starting them about a 

 month earlier in dirt-bands, pots, etc., under glass, 

 and then moving them to the outdoor hills about 

 May 25th in the North, or when the second leaves 

 are formed. (See Chapter III.) Or they may be 

 forced in a small way in the outdoor hills, by using 

 the box-and-glass arrangement pictured in Chapter 

 XIIL 



Marketing limas : When the shape of the beans 

 can be distinctly seen in the pods, it is about time 

 to pick them ; of course several pickings are made at 

 different times, until frost stops growth. Green 

 limas are packed and shipped in their pods in various 

 kinds of baskets, etc., or are sometimes sold at retail, 

 shelled, by the quart. 



Bean insects and diseases : The principal insect 

 pests are the weevil (see Chapter VIII), and cut- 

 worms (Chapter XI). Several kinds of beetles 

 sometimes eat the leaves ; spraying the vines with 

 buhach may help to discourage them, or they may 

 be knocked into pans of kerosene. Mildew, rust 

 and blight can be largely controlled by early spray- 

 ings with Bordeaux. 



Sweet Potatoes. — For best success this crop de- 

 mands a loose, sandy soil and a long, warm season; 



