RUNNER BEANS. 
(Phaseolus multiflorus.) 
French, Haricots a@ rames. 
CULTURAL NOTES. 
Few vegetables have attained greater popularity than the Runner Bean, 
and the crop is unquestionably one of the most profitable that can be grown 
in any garden. 
Preparation of the Soil. In the cultivation of Runners the 
main point to be borne in mind is that the plant possesses the most 
extensive root-system of any garden vegetable. Deep digging and liberal 
manuring are therefore essential where the production of the finest crops 
is aimed at. If possible the whole of the ground to be allotted to Runners 
should be deeply tilled and well manured in autumn or winter. But where 
this is inconvenient, trenching must be carried out in March or early April. 
Remove the soil toa depth of two feet, and the trench may be two feet wide 
for a double row of Beans. Thoroughly break up the subsoil, half-fill the 
trench with well-rotted manure, and restore the surface soil to within a few 
inches of the level. 
Time of Sowing. It is seldom advisable to sow Runners in the 
open before the month of May is fairly in, for they are less hardy than 
Dwarf Beans, but as late supplies are everywhere valued it is important to 
sow again in June. In districts where spring frosts are destructive, and on 
cold soils or in very exposed situations, plants may be raised in boxes for 
transferring to the open ground, as advised for Dwarf Beans, but in the case 
of Runners allow a space of three inches between the seeds. 
Distances for Rows, &c. Frequently the rows of Runner Beans 
are injuriously close. On deep, well-prepared soils, single rows generally 
prove most productive, and they should be not less than five feet apart. 
But where the soil is shallow and generous preparation is not possible, and 
in wind-swept positions, double rows, set nine inches apart, are more 
satisfactory. Between the double rows allow a space of from six to eight 
feet, on which Cauliflower, Lettuce, and other small-growing subjects may 
be planted out. Set the seed about two inches deep and let the plants 
stand finally at nine to twelve inches apart in the rows. 

Staking. It will always pay to give support by stakes, but where 
these are not available wire netting or strands of stout string make efficient 
substitutes. Immediately the plants 
are a few inches high, insert the 
sticks on either side of the rows and 
tie them firmly to the horizontal 
stakes placed in the fork near to 
the top, as shown in the accom- 
panying illustration (figure 2). The 
means of support should be decided 
upon and erected in advance of 
planting out Runners which have 
been raised in boxes, thus avoiding 
any risk of injury to the roots. 

General Cultivation. As 
slugs and snails are particularly 
partial to the young plants, an 


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COPYRIGHT S.&S. 
occasional dusting of old soot, slaked 
lime, or any gritty substance should 
be given to render the _ leaves 
unpalatable to these pests. During 
drought copious watering of the rows is essential, especially on shallow 
soils; spraying the plants in the evening with soft water is also freely 
practised, and this assists the setting of the flowers in dry weather. A 
mulch of decayed manure, applied as shown in the illustration (figure 1), 
will prove of great benefit to the plants and will prolong the period of 
bearing. Runners make a good return when kept low by the removal of 
the tips, and this system is adopted by many market gardeners. For this 
method of culture space the plants one foot apart in single rows set three 
feet apart. Pinch out the tips when the plants are eighteen inches high, and 
repeat the operation when a further eighteen inches of growth has formed. 
SUTTON’S PRIZEWINNER AND SUTTON’S BEST OF ALL ARE THE TWO FINEST RUNNER BEANS 
FOR EXHIBITION AND GENERAL USE. 
Sutton’s Prizewinner. 
of the ordinary Scarlet Runner. 
in cultivation. Again 
of three crosses (XX X). 
Prizewinner 
‘I should like to give a word of praise to your Prizewinner Runner 
Bean. The pods are remarkably fine, many measuring 16 inches in length, 
while the quality is unsurpassed.’—Mr. W. SANDERS, Gardener to the 
Hon. Sir WILLIAM GOSCHEN, K.B.E. 
‘I enclose a few Secon pods of Sutton’s Prizewinner, which is 
without doubt the finest Runner Bean in cultivation. Many people here 
have no beans at all this season; but with me Prizewinner has been 
in constant picking since the beginning of July (September 6, 1919).’— 
Mr. C. Hicks, The Gardens, Holbrook. 
Sutton’s Best of All. 
is unequalled by any other Scarlet Runner. 
are produced in immense clusters, and when cooked the flavour is first-rate. 
great size other important qualities have not been sacrificed. The form is admirable and free from 
Sutton’s Best of All has been a great prizewinner 
coarseness. Habit robust, and extremely prolific. 
since its introduction in 1896 
‘The crop of your Best of All and Prizewinner Runner Beans is 
everything one could wish for. The beans, which are borne in large 
clusters, are of great length and very fleshy..—Mr. W. STEPHENSON, 
Gardener to Sir E. E. PEARSON. 
“Sutton’s Best of All and Prizewinner are the finest Runner Beans 
that can be grown. I have plenty of pods 16 inches in length in excellent 
condition for the table. These two varieties are unrivalled for exhibition. ' 
Mr. P. BooToN, Gardener to the Right Hon. Viscount MILNER. 
Sutton’s Scarlet. One of the most popular Scarlet Runner Beans for the general crop. 
The pods grow quite straight, of great length, and attract the attention of judges when staged for competition. 
Award of Merit, R.H.S., 1918 
in cold and wet, seasons. 
Very tender and of excellent flavour. 
‘Miss Harper would like to say how wonderfully well the Runner 
Bean, Sutton’s Scarlet, has cropped. Most of the pods were about 10 or 11 
inches long and beautifully straight and tender.’—Birchwood. 
An indispensable exhibition variety of superb table quality. 
Awarded a First-class Certificate by the Royal Horticultural 
Society in 1892, after it had been tested at Chiswick by the side of the leading varieties 
in 1895 this Bean was tested at Chiswick, and received the award 
Probably no Runner Bean has ever won so many prizes as Sutton’s 
(See illustration on following page.) 
The seed is perfectly distinct from that 
FIRST-CLASS CERTIFICATE, 1892, 
AND X XX, 1895, 
ROYAL pple EL SOCIETY. 
per 3-pint, 2s.; pint, 3s. 6d. 
‘To my mind one could not grow a better Bean than Sutton’s Prize- 
winner. Last year they were again a great success, and it was nothing 
unusual to pick beans 18 inches in length. Your Prizewinner is certainly 
the best I have grown, and I have never seen its equal..—Miss MYLREA, 
Vicar’s Hill. 
‘During the past three years I have taken twelve First Prizes with 
Runner Beans grown from your seeds. The shortest bean I have exhibited 
was over 16 inches, so I thought I would send you the enclosed sample, 
which measures 18 inches. Your wonderful Prizewinner Bean is the talk 
of the neighbourhood.’—Mr. H. Trott, Stoke-under-Ham. 
We continue to bestow the utmost care on this unique Bean, and our present stock of Best of All 
The pods, which sometimes measure 17 inches in length, 
Awarb OF Merit, R.H.S., 
Aucust 29, 1903. 
In the attainment of 
per 3-pint, 1s. 9d.; pint, 3s. 
‘Mrs. E. J. Taylor would like Messrs. Sutton to see enclosed sample 
of the beans produced from their Best of All seed. This is not an isolated 
specimen but is representative of many dozens, in fact not one has been 
less than 10 inches long. Mrs. Taylor is delighted with the crop and will 
have no other variety in future.’—Clifton. 
‘Your Best of All Runner Bean is the finest I have grown; 
most of the pods are 16 or 17 inches long and of delicious flavour.’— 
Mr. W. GopFREY, Gardener to S. YOUNG, Esq., J.P. 
Yields profusely in hot and dry, and also 
ee ... per pint, 2s. 6d.; quart, 4s. 9d. 
‘I wish to mention how much I appreciate your Scarlet Runner Bean ; 
it is an immense cropper—one can simply take them by the handful—and 
the pods are very long.'.—Mr. H. HoL_MAn, Bonchurch. 

SUTTON & SONS, Seed Growers and Merchants, READING, ENGLAND. 
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