CHAP. VI.] THE KITCHEN-GARDEN. 
169 
called the black blight. The crop should be 
gathered when the beans are about half ripe. 
The bean is said to be a native of Egypt; 
and it is supposed to have been brought to 
England by the Romans. 
Kidney-Beans differ from the other legu¬ 
minous vegetables, in their pods being eaten. 
There are two distinct kinds, the Dwarf 
Kidney-Beans, and the Scarlet-Runners; 
and these are again divided into numerous 
subdivisions. The soil for the dwarf kinds 
should be similar to that for peas: viz., rich, 
light, and dry, but not newly manured; and 
it should have been well pulverized to the 
depth of a foot or eighteen inches. The 
drills are generally made about two inches 
deep; and two feet or two feet and a half 
apart. The seeds are sown the first or se¬ 
cond week in May. As the plants grow, 
they may be earthed up; and if the plants 
are very vigorous, and appear disposed to 
run to haulm, a few of the leading shoots may 
have their tops pinched off;' but this should 
be done carefully, and the operation confined 
to a few of the strongest growing plants. 
The scarlet-runners require nearly the same 
