CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
239 
pole Hinas are the same as for pole, snap or shell beans. 
Limas are sometimes started in hotbeds or green- 
houses, in which case the seed should not be sown longer 
than four weeks in advance of field planting. Pots or 
berry baskets may be used for this purpose. They should 
be filled with light, rich soil and about four beans planted 
in each pot or basket. By this method the plants may be 
set in the field without any disturbance of the roots, and 
edible beans should be obtained at least two weeks 
sooner than from field plantings. 
31 1. Supporting pole beans.— Poles ranging in length 
from 7 to 9 feet are generally used for the support of 
climbing varieties. The bark is left on them, as the rough 
surface is an advantage to the twining plants. They are 
placed at the time of planting. If kept under cover when 
not in use, they will last several years. 
Various forms of wire supports are used when the 
beans are planted in drills. This method of support is 
regarded as an advantage by many growers. Some home 
gardeners prefer the heavy types of poultry netting, 
especially for lima varieties. An excellent plan, although 
more troublesome than the pole method of support, is to 
plant and brace fairly heavy posts at the ends of the 
rows with lighter posts at intervals of 20 feet, the posts 
extending 5 or 6 feet above ground. A No. 10 wire is 
stretched over the tops of the posts, and another near 
the ground. The two wires are connected in a zigzag 
manner with light twine, as shown in Figure 60. 
