BROAD BEANS. 
(Faba vulgaris.) 
French, Féves de marais. 
A quart of Beans weighs about 14 lb. 
CULTURAL NOTES. 
Considering the productive nature of the plant and its comparatively 
brief occupation of the ground, the Broad Bean may be regarded as one 
of the most profitable of garden crops. Where Beans are appreciated, 
both the Longpods and the Windsors should be grown—the former for 
earliness and bulk, and the latter for superior quality. 
Soil. Good crops of Beans may be obtained from almost any soil, but 
the plant thrives to greatest advantage in cool retentive ground which has 
been deeply worked and liberally manured in autumn. 
Autumn Sowing. Owing to its hardy constitution, the Broad Bean 
is thoroughly adapted for sowing in autumn. The crop comes earlier to 
maturity and often the return is larger than from seed sown in spring, as a 
result of greater root action and a more extensive development of the plant. 
For these early crops the Longpods are the most useful. Select well- 
drained ground in a fairly warm situation, and sow towards the end of 
October or during November, choosing a dry day for the operation. On no 
account should the attempt be made while the soil conditions are unfavour- 
able, even if the sowing is thereby deferred for some time. Double rows are 
usual and should be made by drawing two drills nine inches apart and two 
inches deep. Place the seeds six to nine inches apart in the rows and, when 
covered in, thoroughly consolidate the soil to encourage sturdy hard growth 
which will successfully withstand the excessive moisture and cold of winter. 
The distance between the double rows may be from two to three,feet, 
according to the variety grown. 
Spring Sowing. The first opportunity afforded by favourable 
climatic conditions in January or February should be taken, but February 
is generally the most suitable month for getting in the main crop. 
For succession crops sowings may be made until mid-April, after which 
time success is rarely attained. The procedure advised under autumn 
sowing may be safely adopted, although where Beans are grown in 
large quantities, and also on rather poor soils, the seed may be spaced 
about six inches apart in drills made at a uniform distance of one foot 
apart. 
General Cultivation. During the growing season stir the ground 
frequently to conserve moisture and prevent the growth of weeds. As 
soon as a fair number of 
flowers have set, pinch off 
the tips of the plants, which 
are useless for the develop- 
ment of pods (see accom- 
panying illustration). This 
early removal of the 
extreme tip diverts the 
energy of the plant’to the 
production of beans, while 
the remaining growth 
becomes hardened and un- 
suitable as a host for the 
Bean Aphis. Immediately 
the pods are ready they 
should be gathered, as 
the ripening of the seeds 

will at once arrest the 
supply of beans, and it ; COPYRIGHT §. & 8. 
is advisable to root BEFORE REMOVAL Ban REMOVAL 
out all plants directly OF TOPS. OF TOPS. 
gathering is finished, for if left they throw up suckers and ethane? the soil. 
Sowings under Glass. Broad Beans are occasionally forwarded 
under glass for transplanting in due course to the open ground, and this 
practice is convenient in cases where heavy water-logged ground precludes 
outdoor sowing in autumn or early spring. Sow at the end of January in 
boxes not less than four and a half inches deep filled with fine soil, placing 
the seed two inches apart each way and one and a half inches below the 
surface. No artificial heat whatever is required ; the protection of a cold 
frame is all-sufficient. Give air freely whenever possible, and harden off the 
plants ready for transfer to open quarters as soon as weather permits about 
the middle of March. Lift the plants carefully with a trowel to avoid injury 
to the roots, and space them at the distances advised for outdoor sowing, 
GREEN-SEEDED VARIETIES. 
class. 
(Illustrated) 
not seen its equal. 

Beck’s 


Ante ‘hy, f/ Half numerous, well filled 
Gicae y natural , 
length. Creen Windsor 
SUTTON’S UNRIVALLED. Creen Longpod 
‘Your Green Giant is the best Bean for productiveness, size of pod, and fine flavour. 
It should be grown in every garden where a really good Bean is required.’— 
Mr. J. SAWYER, Haywards Heath. 
Dwarf Creen Cem, or edu aot 
eee eee sae see eee eee eee ” 
Sutton’s Unrivalled. this exceptionally fine Bean, introduced by us last year, 
marks a great advance on all other green-seeded varieties of the Windsor type. In 
general characteristics, apart from the colour of the beans, Sutton’s Unrivalled closely 
resembles our Giant Windsor, and will no doubt eventually occupy the same position 
in the green-seeded section that the latter variety has long held in the white-seeded 
The massive pods, which are freely produced on plants of robust habit, generally 
contain 5 beans of large size, and these are rich green in colour and of superb flavour. 
per pint, 2s. 6d. 
Sutton’s Creen Giant. 4 counterpart of Sutton’s Exhibition Longpod, and one of 
the most popular varieties in existence. 
the best of the white-seeded class, with the advantage of the deeper coloured strains. 
Very fine for exhibition. 
In all respects Sutton’s Green Giant is equal to 
Award of Merit, R.H.S., 1917 per pint, ls. 9d.; quart, 3s. 
I have 
Sutton’s Creen Longpod. A great improvement on the ordinary Green Longpod, 
the pods being much larger and the beans of finer flavour, per pint, 1s. 6d.; quart, 2s. 9d. 
Sutton’s Creen Windsor has entirely eclipsed the common Green Windsor Bean. 
Pods very large, and beans of a rich green colour. 
Highly Commended, R.H.S., 1917 
per pint, ls. 6d.; quart, 2s. 9d. 
pods small, very 
The dwarfest Broad Bean; 
: quart, 2s. 6d. 
. per pint, 1s. 6d. ; 
Ls. 07.5 Sees OC. 
~ TS MOC AEE cS: OGn 

SUTTON & SONS, Seed Growers and Merchants, READING, ENGLAND. 
16 
