Milford chronicle., 1911-09-22
GROWING LIMA BEANS.

Lima beans are a valuable crop to grow
yet it has occurred to me many times for
almost 20 years, why so many people give
this important farm and garden crop so
little attention. There are several things
that are highly important and essential
to the successful growing OF lima beans,
namely; good rich soil, not too low or
heavy clay land; the proper preparation
of the ground; the cultivation; the right
kind of seed, and the season. I give pole
lima beans more study and careful atten-
ton than any other garden crop, as they
are more valuable to me than anything
else can grow on the same space of
ground. The rows are lined to four feet
apart, and the poles are set by measure
exactly 80 inches apart. use good cedar
and cypress poles % to q feet high, using
good stout poles, not too large, with as
many short limbs not more than } inch
long left on poles
The ground is plowed good and deep.
and worked over with'a cultivator and
drag. The poles are firmly set one to
two weeks before planting time Iusual-
ly work my beans two to three times be-
fore plant them. This may seem strange
to some, yet it is a fact. As soon as the |
poles are set the ground around them is
and deeply worked over with
a narrow bladed hoe two to three times |
before planting time. Many people make
a mistake by working around the hills
too deep when the plants are growing,
thus injuring the roots. Before the vines
reach the top, cord about like binder
twine should be strung at top of poles,
upon which the runners can be trained to
run from hill to hill. This prevents the
from falling down and forming
so dense a growth o! vines, which tend
20 smother the beans and cause many
pods to mildew and waste. have found
his method increases the crop to a con
extent. Short poles, sticks and
.dgings should not be used, as it gives
ne vines no place to run, and what would
otherwise have been a good crop had good
all poles been used, only about half
,rop. is had.
The seed is one important item. do
lot plant butN very few of the old time
as / find certain varieties of
he large lima more prolific and better
favored. / find by actual test that Ideal,
.evithian, Genesee Early, Mammoth and
Emerald Isle are varieties possessing
terliug qualities. Emerald Isle is a new
ariety, Just introduced this season. 1t
5 a large bean and a heavy cropper. The
helled beans are of a beautiful color,
ender and delicious.
Time and again / have been asked, do
on plant OH certain so-Called signs'
nswer NO for whenever the weather is
lvorable, ground not too wet or cold,
rom the middle of April to the middle of
Iay, plant No matter what size beans
re planted on, or how well they are
ared for, should the season happen to be
dry or wet in time of bloom,
le blossoms will drop off and a short
-op is the result.
When planting, the eye of the bean
lould be pressed down in the ground to
lsure it coming up quicker. About
iches from the pole in a square plat, one
liant to each of the four corners should
e left When planting early, from the
5th of April until May 1st, it is a good
IAN to plant a second time, about the
me first planting is comingup. Usually
is not well to plant Lima beans before =
lie first of May, unless the spring is
lrly and the weather very favorable.
ne early spring | planted part of my
lrden on April 18th and had a good
and, with filled pods by July 4th r
The dry beans should be gathered once =
-ery week, and as soon as frost comes n
i'd the crop off, the poles should be taken
} and stored away. I have some good
dar poles, that were hard seasoned
hen cut, which have been used seven :
asons and are still good.
JOHN II. GRIFFITH.
Bridgeville, Del.