HOME VEGETABLE GARDENING 
THE CULTIVATION OF BEANS 
ASA descendant of natives of India and arid Amer- 
ica, beans need cultivation more than watering. 
As soon as the young plants develop the second pair of 
leaves, start to hoe them, pulling the soil slightly toward 
the rows. After every shower go over the patch with 
a handhoe or wheelhoe to break up the crust forming 
on soil, but never work over bean plants while leaves are 
wet with dew or rain. It spreads rust — a fungous disease 
that badly marks the pods and foliage with ugly brown 
spots and eventually causes the plant to die. 
Weeding, hoeing, and hilling are the three main needs 
of beans. The principal reasons for hilling them are that 
it puts an extra deep dust mulch around the base of 
plants and it supports the plants, thus keeping pods off 
the ground. If an extra long drought retards develop- 
ment of the plants and watering becomes necessary, put 
the water between the rows, next to the plants, but do not 
wet the plants. The roots need the moisture. 
So 
