The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-23
SHORT CHAPTERS
On Vegetable Culture.
BEANS.

on Vegetable Culture.
BEANS.
lang vegetable plants the bean occu-
.ayerv conspicuous position, being one
.bs most valuable as an article of sub
...+;al food. 1t has been extensively de-
4 ,.,.d in all civilized countries, and it
ms now there is little room for improve
., Since the introduction Of the wax
s,ia,ies of snaps and the dwarf lima or
r+sr bean the bean may be regarded as
ring reached its climax. and with little
.,Hbood of being further improved.
mere are already over 125 varieties of
an hams. and more than dozen Of the
"a varieties recorded in the catalogues of
4merican Scotsman, and it is no diff
matter to make selection of the two
rbres varieties needed for culture in the
ma or market garden. Tastes differ in
gard to beans as much as with anything
Some prefer the wax varieties, while
hers still give a preference TO the green
Ms For garden culture some choose the
mining varieties, and others the dwarfs
bad seouire no brushing. The bush varie-
a are better adapted to the use of the
nsiority of gardeners in the cities and
Eowas than the running srts. and as the e
re in nowise inferior in edible qualities,
md as they can be readily planted every
sbree or four weeks for succession, they are
more generally used than the pole beans.
As to varieties: Where a green pod run
hjng bean is desired there is no variety
more productive used of better quality tina
khe round podded Southern Prolific"
though there are many old gardeners who
kill thiak there is nothing to equal the we'll
known creaseback or "Fat horse" bean that
has been a popular variety in the south for
thr.y or forty years, if not longer. 1t is
undoubtedly good variety, being some
what earlier than the Southern Prolific"
but is not so productive, and does not re-
bnain il bearing so long. 1T might be said
Mat both Of these kinds are good enough,
i ut thosa who feel that "only the best is
kood enough" would give the preference to
Ire "lToIllc"
n Amongst the yellow podded or wax varie-
tuuerlor The seeds are red. The pods are
very long, and whom ready for the table of
clsqr, waXy yellow, and even when very
'9arga are tender and possess a flavor that is
fEce..ed by no other sort, of which there are
keVaral.
q Of the green podded bush varieties it is
hot necessary to name more than three or
Sfour kinds The white and the red valen-
tine lead the van; the Mohawk, refugee fol.
i low closely. All of these have round pods,
except the Mohawk. A very productive
|fa-podded kind is the China Red The
rounded kinds are to be preferred when
used as snaps. There are other good kinds
Of beans, Of course, but those named are as
good, if not better, than most other varie-
ties catalogued. In fact, these very kinds
will oftentimes, probably, be found under
otter names.
The bush wax beans are very popular
The Golden Wax' is as good as any. There
Healso tie German Wax" Crystal Wax"
md doZen or more varieties" that show
very little difference except in name.
Until within the last two or three years
We had no such thing as a bush or dwarf
hitter bean, but now at least two distinct
urieties are being offered to cultivators. 1t
will be some time yet before they enter into
gneral cultivation, Tor the seeds are very
narce and high-priced. 1t was very I'M
favorable year to the bean crop, and the
product of last year was small and of poor
quality, and the retail price has not yet fall
len low enough to warrant a very extended
demand for the seed. Last season the retail
price for package Of four beans was u
cents, but this year like packages can be had
Tor 81 cents. The two varieties referred to
are the Henderson" bush lima and the
burpee lima. The latter is much superior
70 the former. 1t is dwarf variety of the
genuine large lima. The Henderson is a
dwarf of the small Carolina Tor SewelD
bean. and is novelty of merit, and will be
extensively cultivated and improved, per-
laps. A single plant of Burpee lima was
lown last year which had on it $50 large
and wel'-developed pods.
Inc discovery and Introduction of these
push varieties will by no means drive out of
Use our own and well-known southern pole
ina. 1t will continue to be priced by many
VINO lind the supplying of the necessary
coles no great tax for this variety. When
Well cultivated, which term includes a
proper pruning Of the vines, it produces al
immense yield Of beans. Thousands Of
gardeners, large and small, will find, how
sVer, toe bush sorts more adapted to their
IeeoS Than the pole varieties, and will be-
JUNG as the bush snaps, no doubt.
Nothing is gained by planting before the
Ine soil has has warmed up well or before
me frost period has passed. A small area
d the crop may be risked in Middle Georgia
me latter part of March and earlier in
oouVh Georgia, but the main crop cannot
Dc safely planted in the latitude earlier
'han April Is or 25. Latitude and elevation
IL SV regulate the planting of the crop. OF
course, when grown for market it is desira~
JIG 10 mature the crop as early as possible,
iuu every year more or less risk must be
aSen with part of the crop, but it is not
wise to be too premature with the main
,rop.
Deans like dry. light soil that has been
ven enriched by suitable ma lures the year
'eiore' or soil that is naturally rich. and
specially in the mineral elements. No
leWiy made, unfermented manure, such as
Caoie manure, should be applied to bean
.Iop Unless applied simply as top dressing,
ouch manure should not come in close con
acO with the roots. Good old compost that
ias oeen well fermented can generally be
lsed 70 advantage and especially on soil
acKlng in nitrogen, but any great excess of
lltr gen over the available mineral ele>
neAts-potash and phosphate lis very likely
q produce unSatigfactOrv cr0rq