38 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN 



or that made from cow manure. 

 Where, however, the latter is used, 

 a Httle Hme should be previously 

 dissolved in it, otherwise it has a 

 tendency to make the soil sour and 

 breed worms. Water in all cases 

 should be applied in a tepid state ; 

 and avoid pouring it close to the 

 bases of the stems, as they may be 

 injured by so doing. 



Culture in Pits and Frames. 

 — The method to be adopted for 

 growing Beans under glass must 

 necessarily depend upon the nature 

 of the structures in which they are 

 to be grown. Where only cold-pits 

 and frames are employed Beans can- 

 not, of course, be obtained during 

 the winter months, but by a little 

 attention and skill they may be had 

 very late in the autumn, and much 

 earlier in the spring than they can 

 be obtained in the open air. If 

 heating material, such as stable 

 litter and leaves, be plentiful, sow- 

 ings may be made in pits or frames 

 early in March. If pits be used, 

 they should be filled up with 

 heating material to within 2 ft. of 

 the glass, firmly treading it down 

 as the work proceeds. This done, 

 a layer of rotten manure or leaf- 

 mould may be spread over the litter 

 to the thickness of 3 or 4 in. ; 

 6 or 8 in. of soil may then be 

 placed on the top, the lights put 

 on and allowed to remain until the 

 soil is found to have got warm, 

 when the beans may be put in 

 rather thickly, eventually thinning 

 out so as to leave the plants 6 in. 

 apart each way. If the soil be dry, 

 watering will be necessary, but too 

 much moisture must be avoided at 

 this season of the year. If a lining 

 of warm manure can be put round 

 the pit it will be beneficial to the 

 growth of the plants. A thick 

 covering will be necessary at night 

 to protect the plants from frost. 



Where wooden frames or boxes are 

 used, a good bed of leaves and litter 

 should be made, and the box should 

 be placed upon it, building the 

 lining up round the box to the level 

 of the lights, as is done in the 

 case of Cucumbers and Melons. If 

 treated afterwards as recommended 

 for pits, the plants will grow rapidly 

 — i.e. if the weather be at all genial. 

 When they have made two joints 

 beyond the seed-leaves, the plants 

 may be pricked out, in order to 

 keep them dwarf and sturdy, and 

 cause them to throw out stronger 

 side-shoots than they otherwise would 

 do. If a few small twigs be stuck 

 in the soil between the plants, they 

 will not be so liable to get broken. 

 Abundance of air will be necessary 

 when the plants are well established, 

 but it must be given with care, as 

 a rush of cold air suddenly admitted 

 would cause the tender foliage to 

 shrivel, and render the plants worth- 

 less. If it be found that too much 

 steam accumulates in the frame 

 during the night, it will be necessary 

 to leave a " crack " of air on. Beans 

 may be obtained in this way by the 

 end of May or beginning of June, 

 and, if properly treated, will yield 

 a fair supply until the early outdoor 

 crops come into use. If, however, 

 there be convenience, another sowing 

 may be made in the same way a 

 fortnight later, in order to ensure a 

 supply in the event of any disaster 

 befalling the first outdoor crop. 



Some growers prefer raising the 

 plants in pots or boxes and trans- 

 planting them into frames, and 

 where time can be spared this plan 

 is not without advantages ; others 

 prefer growing them entirely in 

 pots, and plunging them in the pits 

 and frames. Thus managed, they 

 come into bearing rather sooner, but 

 they do not generally last so long, 

 neither is the produce so fine as 



