30 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER. 
January  13,  1898. 
VEGETABLES  FOB  HOME  AND  EXHIBITION. 
ItUNNER  AND  BBOAD  BeANS. 
It  would  be  difficult  to  over-rate  the  value  of  the  Bunner  Bean, 
which,  being  hardier  and  later  than  Dwarf  Beans,  makes  an  excellent 
succession.  In  order  to  assist  the  plant  to  do  its  best  during  the  long 
season  in  which  it  crops,  recourse  should  be  had  to  deep  cultivation 
with  an  ample  supply  of  manure  to  sustain  the  lower  roots.  An 
abundance  of  fine  pods  which  find  favour  both  on  the  show  board  and 
dining  table  may  be  obtained  by  taking  out  the  soil  two  spits  deep 
and  about  2  feet  wide.  Good-  farmyard  manure  should  be  dug  in  at 
the  bottom  of  the  trench,  and  the  soil  with  one  layer  of  manure  a  spit 
below  the  surface  be  replaced.  The  plant  then  has  a  deep  rooting 
medium  of  enriched  soil,  in  which  its  fibres  may  ramify  and  supply 
the  support  necessary  for  its  welfare  under  the  strain  of  pod  production. 
In  seasons  of  drought  the  benefit  of  this  method  of  cultivation  is 
particularly  apparent. 
Bunners  do  not  readily  lend  themselves  to  any  methods  of  forcing, 
but  in  order  to  encourage  them  to  come  in  early  they  are  sometimes 
sown  in  boxes  or  pots  close  to  the  glass  in  cool  frames  in  April,  and 
transplanted  later  in  the  rows.  In  sowing  for  removal  soil  of  a  fibrous 
character  should  be  chosen,  so  that  this  adheres  to  the  roots,  and  the 
Beans  can  be  transplanted  with  balls  of  earth  attached.  Generally 
speaking,  the  first  week  in  May  is  early  enough  to  make  the  sowing 
for  a  main  crop  supply,  and  if  the  soil  has  been  previously  prepared  as 
recommended  above  a  broad  drill  some  3  inches  deep  should  be  drawn 
out,  and  the  seeds  inserted  zigzag  fashion  about  G  inches  apart. 
Many  growers  sow  the  seeds  in  two  rows,  and  insert  the  poles  at  a 
slight  angle,  lashing  them  together  when  they  cross  at  the  top.  An 
argument  raised  against  this  method  is  that  when  the  poles  are 
fiumished  with  foliage  the  ground  between  the  rows  is  invariably  dry, 
as  the  rain  naturally  drips  from  the  leaves  to  the  outer  side  of  the  rows. 
When  rows  are  sown  parallel  to  each  other  a  distance  of  8  to  10  feet 
should  be  allowed  between  them,  and  where  a  large  quantity  is 
required  two  successional  sowings  ought  to  be  made  at  the  end  of  May 
and  middle  of  June. 
When  the  plants  are  about  6  inches  high  the  soil  should  be  drawn 
up  to  them  from  each  side  with  a  hoe,  and  the  poles  inserted.  These 
may  be  kept  from  swaying  by  tying  laths  or  other  poles  along  them 
horizontally,  6  or  7  feet  from  the  ground.  No  stopping  of  the  growth 
is  necessary,  though  it  is  important  that  the  pods  on  the  lower  part  of 
the  stems  be  pici^ed  as  they  mature,  in  order  to  encourage  those  higher 
up  to  develop.  During  hot  dry  weather  water  is  frequently  necessary, 
particularly  on  light  soils,  and  if  a  mulching  of  littery  manure  or 
short  grass  follow  the  operation  the  moisture  given  is  largely 
conserved. 
Growing  runners  without  sticks  is  a  system  chiefly  adopted  by 
market  gardeners  and  others  Avho  have  a  difficulty  in  getting  the 
necessary  poles.  Under  this  method  of  culture  the  rows  may  be 
dispersed  about  3  feet  apart,  and  the  growths  kept  regularly  pinched. 
One  of  the  drawbacks  is  that  the  pods  are  frequently  splashed  during 
wet  weather,  but  this  may  be  averted  by  mulching  between  the  roAvs 
with  any  material  of  a  littery  nature.  There  are  many  named 
\mrieties  of  runners,  and  amongst  them  Boyal  Jubilee,  Giant  White, 
Ne  Plus  Ultra,  and  Prizewinner  Avill  meet  the  requirements  of  both 
exhibitors  and  home  growers.  Long  straight  pods  of  even  character 
are  the  best  for  exhibition,  taking  care  to  choose  only  such  as  are  in 
the  best  condition  for  table,  and  will  readily  break  under  pressure  of 
the  thumT)  and  finger. 
It  is  not  necessary  to  enlarge  on  the  cultivation  of  the  Broad  Bean, 
as  the  plant  is  one  of  ready  accommodation  when  conditions  of  culture 
are  fairly  favourable.  Drought  is  the  most  frequent  cause  of  failure, 
and  during  the  past  summer  we  have  had  ample  opportunities  of 
noticing  this  Avhere  the  soil  Avas  of  a  shalloAV,  sandy  nature.  With 
deeply  worked  soil  of  a  sound  texture  and  AA'ell  enriched  with  good 
manure.  Broad  Beans  rarely  disappoint  us.  The  taste  for  this  vegetable 
appears  to  vary  very  much,  though  as  an  article  of  food  there  is  but 
one  opinion  as  regards  its  nutritious  qualities.  The  Longpod  varieties 
are  the  most  suitable  for  the  early  soAvings,  Avhich  should  be  made 
thinly  at  the  end  of  February  or  early  in  March,  and  of  these  both 
the  Early  and  the  Seville  Longpods  are  good.  The  rows  must 
not  be  less  than  3  feet  asunder,  and  the  plants  to  suppl}^  large 
pods  fit  for  exhibition  purposes  should  be  alloAved  a  distance  of  from 
9  to  12  inches  apart.  In  order  to  keep  up  a  succession  sowings  ought  to 
be  made  at  intervals,  the  Improved  Broad  Windsor  being  one  of  the 
best  for  main  crop  and  late  use.  Beck’s  Gem  is  an  excellent  dAvarf 
variety,  and  is  much  appreciated,  as  the  beans  are  small  in  size  and  of 
a  delicious  flavour.  This  variety  may  be  gi’own  more  closely. 
Black  fly  is  the  common  enemy  of  the  Broad  Bean,  and  insecticides 
are  frequently  used  in  destroying  it.  As,  hoAV'ever,  the  plants  are  not 
often  attacked  until  the  crop  is  insured  the  most  efficient  AA'ay  of 
getting  rid  of  the  pest  is  to  pinch  out  the  tops  of  the  plants  and 
destroy  them.  A  moist  position  should  always  be  chosen  for  this 
crop,  and  in  order  to  prolong  the  season  in  dry  weather,  and  as?ist  the 
production  of  large  pods,  supplies  of  AA'ater  and  liquid  manure  must 
be  given.  For  exhibition  purposes  the  best  pods  are  long  and  filled 
Avith  tender  beans  placed  closely  together.  Some  varieties  produce 
pods  large  enough  to  please  anyone,  but  the  beans  are  dispersed  so 
Avidely  apart  in  them  that  many  have  to  be  pulled  to  make  a  dish. 
Needless  to  say  such  kinds  are  not  the  best  to  grow.  All  pods  of 
Broad  Beans  should  be  removed  from  the  plants  as  they  mature, 
AA'hether  required  for  use  or  not,  otherwise  the  formation  of  others 
higher  up  the  stems  will  be  checked. — Gboaver  and  Judge. 
A  GOOD  INVESTMENT. 
An  Appeal  to  the  “  Missus.” 
The  money  market  is  not,  judging  from  what  one  knows,  a 
matter  of  primary  concern  to  the  great  gardening  fraternity.  The 
rise  and  fall  of  stocks  in  the  horticultural  Avorld  are  chiefly  limited  to 
those  particular  varieties  known  as  Bromptons,  East  Lothians,  or 
Ten-Aveeks.  Yet  few  men  better  knoAv  the  value  of  money,  I  venture 
to  say,  than  gardeners,  and  fewer  still  are  more  cautious  in  their 
calculations  in  an  honest  endeavour  to  make  be  th  ends  meet ;  but 
meet  they  do,  Avith  a  long  pull  and  a  strong  pull,  and  all  praise  to 
many  a  good  “  missus,”  who,  doing  a_lion’s  share  in  the  tug-of-AA’ar, 
finds,  when  the  ends  have  met,  a  remnant  over.  And  she  will  know 
Avhat  to  do  with  it.  But  in  the  way  of  a  good  investment  our  better- 
half  is  not  above  receiving  a  good  suggestion,  and  such  I  have  to 
make.  It  has  been  made  before,  but  never  to  the  “  missus,”  and 
herein  laid  the  mistake.  At  least  that  inference  has  been  reluctantly 
arrived  at  because  the  prior  suggestions  have  fallen  flat.  Should  some 
lord  and  master  of  a  gardener’s  frugal  home  think  that  any  insinuation 
is  here  implied  anent  Avhat  is  vulgarly  termed  petticoat  government,  so 
be  it.  There  is  not,  I  believe,  any  finer  form  of  home  rule,  or  could 
we  on  the  broader  basis  desire  any  more  beneficent  example,  than  that 
afforded  by  the  Lady  who  has  ruled  so  long,  so  wisely,  and  so  well 
over  the  destinies  of  the  Empire. 
On  the  occasion  of  a  friendly  visit  to  a  neighbour,  as  we  sat  OA’er 
the  cup  that  cheers,  I  was  particularly  impressed  with  the  shrewdness 
of  his  “missus”  AAffien  the  conversation  drifted  from  “Mums”  to 
money.  My  friend,  producing  a  gloAving  prospectus,  said,  “  I  think 
I’ll  have  a  lew  shares  in  this;  what  do  you  think  ?  ”  What  I  thought 
was  of  but  little  moment,  seeing  that  the  “missus  ”  forestalled  me  by 
saving,  “No!  my  money  shall  never  go  into  that,”  Avith  a  strong 
emphasis  on  the  negative  and  a  decided  inflection  upon  the  possessive. 
Not  too  strong  or  too  decided,  hoAvever,  as  events  proved,  for  what 
Avas  shady  when  floated  soon  shook  to  pieces.  So  the  “  missus,”  as 
chancellor  of  my  friend’s  exchequer,  scored,  to  the  admiration  of  him 
who  has  noAv  a  “  real  good  thing”  to  place  before  her  and  all  the 
gentle  spirits  who  rule- so  Avisely. 
The  Gardeners’  Boyal  Benevolent  Institution,  dear  “missus,”  is 
what  I  commend  to  your  notice,  to  your  shrewdness,  and  to  your 
good  sense.  If  you  Avill  but  digest  the  statistics  of  this  noble  Institu¬ 
tion,  noAv  generally  Avell  knoAvn,  in  your  AA'ell-balanced  mind,  I  have 
no  fear  but  what  the  good  man,  Avilly-nili;  ■"•’11  be  a  Boyal  Benevolent 
gardener,  and  to  you  be  ascribed  the  honour  and  glory.  The  notice, 
noAv  to  hand,  of  the  annual  general  meeting  to  be  held  on  the 
20th  proximo,  states  that  nineteen  pensioners  are  to  be  placed  on  the 
funds,  ten  of  whom,  having  been  shareholders  in  this  grand  invest¬ 
ment  scheme  for  a  period  extending  over  from  fifteen  to  thirty-six 
years,  are  noAv  to  receive  the  benefits  “  Avithout  the  trouble  or  expense 
of  election.”  Good,  as  far  as  it  goes,  but  it  does  not  go  far  in  noting 
that  there  are  forty-four  applicants  remaining,  nine  only  of  whom  can 
be  elected  according  as  the  voters  dictate,  because  the  great  body 
corporate  of  British  gardeners  simply  ignore  their  plain  duty  of 
subscribing  to  and  augmenting  the  capital  chiefly  contributed  by 
those  generous  patrons  of  horticulture  Avho,  amongst  the  many  claims 
upon  them,  so  prominently  recognise  the  wants  of  this  Institution. 
The  urgency  of  these  forty-four  cases,  and  the  anxiety  the  applicants 
evince  to  grasp  this  prop  in  their  old  age,  is  obvious  in  scanning  the 
appeal  by  post  to  members  for  their  votes. 
No  need  to  analyse  these  pitiful  appeals,  or  to  say  these  people 
have  only  themselves  to  blame.  There  'is  not,  I  suppose,  one  of  the 
forty-four  Avho  does  not  feel  that,  “  To  fail  late  in  life  is  the  worst 
failing  of  all not  one  but  Avhose  case  is  far  more  eloquent  than  are 
any  AAmrds  of  mine.  There  is,  too,  something  pathetic  in  noticing 
that  ten  of  these  applicants  are  AAudoAvs.  It  may  be  a  natural  feeling 
— or  failing,  AA’hich  you  Aviil — that  one’s  heart  goes  out  to  them  in 
their  lonely  latter-days,  and  there  is  unqualified  pleasure  in  voting  for 
Avhat  one  feels  the  most  deserving  case  amongst  them.  Advisedly  I 
say  most  deserving,  for  charity  begins  at  home,  and  the  good  old 
gardenei-  Avho  has  gone  before,  Avho  recognised  even  late  in  life  the 
claims  of  this  Institution,  surely  deserved  that  preference  should  be 
shoAvn  by  the  endeavour  to  obtain  its  benefits  for  the  “  missus  ” 
bereaved. 
