The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-04-10
THE LIMA BEAN.

Our hot Summers are unfavorable to
many vegetables which Europeans
value, but then we have much to be
thankful for that is denied to them
Among these favors is the lima bean.
Europe, at least that part of it which
is famous for good vegetables, is not
hot enough for it. 1t is very fastidi-
Gus thing even here, and many fail with
it in their early sowings The earth
has to be dry and warm, or the seeds
rot away. 1t is not, however, always
the fault of the earth that the seeds
rot. They are often defective from hav-
ing been left in the frost in the Fall
before gathering. If the seeds are not
quite ripe before the frost arrives, they
are not in good condition of perfect
heathfulness. In this condition, they
are more liable to injure from the damp
colds of Spring. Instead of saving the
last refuse of the crop for seed, few
of the earlier ones should be left on.
1t is a great temtation, certainly, to
take and eat the earliest perfecting beans,
but those who succeed best in all things,
are those who learn to resist such tempt
atons
In raising beans it is almost indis-
pensable to have poles. Indeed the
writer has never seen them grow any
other way. Some writers say that
they do very we'll when planted as
bush beans, and then keep the runners
continually cut off as they grow. This
will require much labor, and it will
therefore, be best to have poles, if at all
possible to procure, which in the regions
reached by our readers it generally is.
The poles have to be set in the ground,
about four feet apart, as the first part
of the operation of bean planting, and
then the earth drawn up around the
base of the pole to small hill. This
hill soon becomes warm and dry, much
sooner than the surrounding fiat ground,
and we can then sow the beans much
earlier. 1t is usual to put about three
or four beans in hill, the roots grow
downwards, and only deep enough to
barely cover the bean. There are few
vegetables so satisfactory to grow in
on American garden as the Lima bean.
1t is little trouble to get ready for
the sowing and when once they come
into use, they continue with no trouble
but the gathering and easy Smelling.
unto frost.
CARE OF LAMBs-If there are any
ewes which do not give milk enough
for their lambs, they should be separated
from the flock and have extra feed and
the lambs may be fed milk (by the handy
till they are able to look out for them
selves. Lambs should not be let out
on cold, raw days; they will get chilled
If any lambs get chilled, teaspoonful
of whiskey, in little milk, warmed,
(ewe's milk is best) may be given them;
it is better than to immerse them in
warm bath, or any other remedy
Lambs can be restored by this means,
when so far gone that you can Lardly
see them breathe.
Lambs should be docked when they
are two or three weeks old. 10 do this
properly, requires two persons-one to
hold the lamb, while the other cuts the
tail off The operator should push, in
stead of pulling the tail, when he makes
the cut; when the skin will nearly cover
the end of the tail The tail should be
left about half an inch long on the under
side, Castrating can be done at the
time of docking, or two or three weeks
after The weather should be warm
enough to prevent danger from cold,
yet before flies become troublesome
When this operation is performed, some
pour little turpentine on the cut
others damp with tar, and other prepare
tions are used; but no preparation is
necessary if well DONE 1t should be
done, though, at the right time
Ivy PLANTs-For climbing plant
in the garden to do duty as screen for
old walls or buildings or to adorn either
when new, we know of nothing in the
world equal to the Ivy-it is SO con-
nected in our minds with ruined castles
and brilliant poesy that it seems to
throw an atmosphere Of grace and
beauty around every object subjected to
its transforming and identifying inhu-
ence Unfortunately it does not prove
quite hardy in some northern sections
of our country, when exposed on a wall,
not that it is injured by the cold, but by
our warm Winter sunshine. On the
north and west side of building it
usually does well, receiving less sun
than in other exposures. Wherever
the Ivy does well we advise every one
to grow few; and as the best subst-
tute, we recommend our beautiful Vir-
ginia Creeper, which is more highly
priced in Europe than in America
For indoor Winter decoration the Ivy
is unequaled, as it can be trained in any
desired form, and will bear more hard
ships and bad usage than any plant we
are acquainted with. Strong roots with
branches from one to FIVE feet in length
should be planted.
Tick's Floral Guide.