p , . î
tT |'
oiiposite side, and let both rows stand
ra tiier wider a t top than a t the ground.
Some gardeners stop the leading shoot
of the most early crop when in blossom;
a device which accelerates th e settmg
and maturity o fth e fru it.” T all growing
peas are sometimes staked by means
of oak or cast-iron standards, stuck in
with branches as shown in f ig . 776.,
or with wires or cord drawn through
th e holes in the standards. (See G a rd .
M a g ., v o l.iv . p. 107.) Slender poles,
such as the tops of trees, may be used
instead of the standards, connecting
them by lines, with excellent effect.
{ Ib id ., vol. vii. p. 103.)
3559. To fo rw a r d a n e a r ly c rop. Sow
or plant in lines from east to west, and
stick a row of spruce-fir branches along
the north side of every row, and sloping
so as to bend over th e plants, a t 1 ft.
o r 18 in. from th e ground. As the
plants advance in height, vary th e position
of th e branches, so as they may
always protect them from perpendicular
cold or rain, and yet leave them open
to th e full influence of the winter and spring sun. Some cover during nights and in severe weather,
with two boards nailed together lengthwise, a t right angles, which forms a very secure and easily managed
covering, but excludes light. A better plan would be to glaze one of th e sides, to be kept to tho
south, and to manage such row-glasses ( . f i g - i l l •), as they might be called, when over peas, beans,
spinach, &c., as hand-glasses are managed when over cauliflower ; th a t is, to take them off in fine weather,
or raise them constantly or occasionally by brickbats or other props, as th e weather and the state
of the crop m ight require.
3.560. K n ig h t sowed peas in the open a ir and peas in pots on the first day of March. In th e last week
of the month those in pots were transplanted in rows in the open g ro u n d ; on the 29th of April the
transplanted plants were 15 in., and th e others 4 in. high, and in June, the former ripened twelve days
only been planted
before th e latter. (^Ilort. T ra n s , vol. v. p. 341.) Had a single, or even two pe
in each pot, and th e plants turned out with th eir balls entire, the crop, no doubt,;,
would have ripened
still earlier.
3561. M a n a g em en t o f a la te crop. One of the best varieties for this purpose is Knight’s marrow pea,
which may be sown a t intervals of ten days from the beginning to the end of June. “ T h e ground
is dug over in the usual way, and th e spaces to be occupied by th e future rows of peas are well soaked
with water. T h e mould upon each side is then collected, so as to form ridges 7m. or S in. above the
previous level of the ground, and these ridges are well watered. The seeds are now sown in single
rows along th e tops o fth e ridges. The plants grow vigorously, owing to th e depth of soil and abundant
moisture. If dry weather at any time set in, water is supplied profusely once a-wcek. In this way the
plants continue green and vigorous, resisting mildew, and yielding fruit till subdued by frost.” ( jio r t.
T ra n s ., vol. ii.) Oldaker, for a late crop, sows in drills 6 in . deep, covers with 3 in., and then gives a
thorough soaking of water, after which he fills up the drill with th e dry soil, and passes a heavy
roller two or th ree times over th e whole compartment. (See G a rd . M a g ., vol. ix.)
3562. G a th e rin g the c rop. “ T h e early crops are generally gathered very young. In th e main crops
take them as they become pretty plump, while th e peas are yet green and tender. Leave some on to
grow o ld ; the young pods will then fill in greater perfection, and the plants will continue longer
in bearing.”
3563. P a c k in g a n d s en d in g to a distance. When peas are put together in quantities exceeding layers
of 1 in. in thickness, and th e air excluded, th e process of fermentation commences in a few hours,
deprives the pea of its sweetness, and lessens its flavour. This may be observed every day in th e pea
season, in the peas sent to Covent Garden market in sacks, when contrasted with those sent in sieves, or
flat shallow baskets. F or this reason, when gardeners in th e country send peas to town, they should
always pack them in thin layers, between thick layers of fern, hay, or straw.
3564. T o save seed. “ Eitlier sow approved sorts in the spring, for plants, to stand wholly for seed, to
have the pods ripen in full perfection; or occasionally leave some rows of anymain crop; let all th e early
ded ripen, and gather the podded llia t■ e f^o rmed only for th e table, a ^ ...... ^ rt. ./«.
good full seed. F or public supply, extensive crops are commonly raised in fields. L e t the seed attain
full maturity, indicated by the pods changing brown, and the peas hardening: then to be hooked up and
prepared for threshing out in due time, cleaned, and housed.” Peas will retain their power of germination
for from two to three years, if kept in th e p o d ; but taken out of th e pod, seldom more than
eighteen months, and some sorts not a year.
3565. F or the method o ifo r c in g p eas, see Chap. V II. Sect. X II.
Subsect. 2. Garden Bean.— Y tc ia Edba L .; Diaddl. Decdnd. L. and Leguminosa J.
Feve de marais, Er,; Gros.se Bohne, Ger.; Boon, Dutch; Fava, Ital.; and Habas
and Alver janas. Span. See Encyc. o f Agr. § 5222.
3566. The garden bean is an annual plant, rising from 2 ft. to 4 ft high. It is supposed
to be a native of the East, and particularly of Egypt, but has been knoivn in
this country from time immemorial, having, in all probability, been introduced by the
Romans.
3567. Use. The seeds are th e only part used in cookery; and are either put in soups, or sent up in
dishes apart.
3568. Varieties. The following arc the principal sorts planted in British gardens:_
1. Early Mazagan: Mazagan, Fûvc de
mazagar, Stidohili’s now early.
2. Long.pod: Common long-pod.
Hang-down long-pod, Early long-pod,
Large long-pod, Sword long-pod, Turkey,
LisUDn, Early moon, Sandwicli,
Windsor long-pod. Fève à longue cossc.
Espèce dc gros fève.
3. Windsjyr: Kentish Windsor, I.argc
Windsor,Taylor’s largeWindsor,Broad
V indsor.Mumtord,Small Spanisli,l'évo
de Windsor.
4. Gi-een Windsor: Tokor, Fève verte
de Windsor.
5. Green long-pod: Green Nonpareil,
Green Genoa, Fèvc verte.
fleur pourpre.
Jhcarf fan: Bog,_ Cluster, Dwarf
_ 3.569. E s tim a te o f so rts. T h e Mazagan is one of the earliest, hardiest, and best flavoured. Mazagan
IS a Portuguese settlement on the coast of Africa, near the Straits of Gibraltar ; and it is said that seeds
brought thence afford plants th a t are more early and more fruitful than those which spring from home-
saved seed. The dwarf-fan or cluster-bean is likewise an early variety, but it is planted chiefly for
curiosity; it rises only Gin. or 8in. high : the branches spread out like a fan, and the pods are produced
in .small clusters. The long-pod bean has been long noted for its fruitfulness. Of all the large
kinds, the Windsors are preferred for the table. When the plants are allowed room and time, they produce
very large seeds, and in tolerable plenty, though they are not accounted liberal bearers. The
green China is late, but very productive ; and the fruit remains green even when ripe and dried. The
dwarf red is th e smallest, earliest, and one o fth e most productive kinds.
3.570. T ime s o f sowiTtg f o r ea rly a n d successional crops. “ For the eariiest crop, plant some Mazagans
in October, November, or December, in a warm border, under an exposure to the full sun. Set them
m rows 12ft. or 2Ut. asunder, about IJm - or 2in. deep, and 2 in . or 3 in . apart in the rows ; or some
may also be sown in a single drill, under a south wall.” The most successful plan for nuturing a
crop over th e winter i.s to sow the beans thickly together in a bod of light earth, under a warm aspect,
for the intermediate object of protecting the iniant plants the better from rigorous weather ; and with
th e view of transplanting them a t th e approach of spring, or when the size of the plants (2 in. or 3 in.
in height) require it, into warm borders, at th e distances a t which th e plants are to fruit. For this
object, the width of a garden-frame is a convenient width for the bed, which should slope a little to the
south. Sow 2 in. deep, either in drills, or by drawing ofl' that depth of the earth with a hoe or spade,
scattering in the beans a t a distance of about a square inch. At th e approach of frost, protect the rising
plants with a frame, hand-glasses, or the half-shelter of an awning of matting. In February or March,
as soon as mild weather offers, transplant them into a warm south border, placing one row close under
a protecting fence as far as th at advantage can be given. Ease them out of the seed-bed with their
full roots, and with as much mould as will adhere ; pull off th e old beans at bottom, and prune the end
of the tap-root. Then plant them a t the proper final distances, closing the earth ra the r high about the
stems. Besides the benefit of previous protection, the fruiting of the beans is accelerated about a
week by transplanting. F urther, if severe frosts kill the early advanced plants, or if it was omitted
to sow an early crop at the general season, a quantity may be sown thick in a moderate hotbed, in
January or February, or in large pots placed therein, or in a stove, to raise some plants quickly, for
transplanting as above ; previously hardening them by degrees to the full air. In all cases, as the young
plants come up, give occasional protection in the severity of winter ; and hoe up a little earth to the stems.
Plants which can have no other shelter should be covered lightly with dry haulm or straw ; but such a
covering must be carefully removed as often as the weather becomes mild. To succeed the above, plant
more of th e same sort, or some of the long-pod, in December or January, when mild weather, for larger
supplies, in more open exposures. And in order to obtain either a more full succession, or a first general
crop, plant some large long-pods, and broad Windsor, at the end of January, if open weather, in some
warm compartment of good mellow ground. Some of the large long-pod, and green Windsor beans,
may also be planted in fuller crops in February, if the weather permit, both for succession and principal
supplies. You may likewise plant any of the kinds, in full and succession crops, in February, March,
and April.”
3571. F o r the m a in s um m e r crops, “ adopt principally the green and common Windsor, and the long-
pod ; all to be planted under a free exposure, in the main compartments. T h e Windsor ranks first in
regard to flavour; but proves, on common soils, not so plentiful a bearer as the long-pod. P la n t also
full succession crops, in March and April, and smaller portions in May and June, for late production.”
(Abe rc rombie .)
3572. Qua n iity o f seed. F o r early crops one pint of seed will be requisite for every 80 ft. of row; for
main crops, two quarts for every 240 ft. of row ; and for late crops, nearly th e same as the early. For
th e main crops, the quantity cultivated in proportion to that for early or late crops, is generally treble
or quadruple, as to the extent of ground : but a less quantity of seed is requisite for the same space.
3573. Mclhod o f sowing. “ Piant all the sorts in rows, 2^ ft. apart, for the smaller, or very early, or
very late kinds; and 3 ft. for the larger: the smaller beans 2 in. deep, and 3 in. distant in the row; the
larger 3 in. deep, and 4 in. distant in the row.”
3574. T ra n sp la n tin g . Speechly constantly transplants his early bean-crops, and considers that this
plant may be as easily transplanted as cabbage, or any other vegetable. It is a practice with him to plant
beans alternately with potatoes in the same row; th e rows 3 ft. apart, and the potatoes 18 in. apart in
th e row, so th at the beans are 9 in. from the potatoes. The beans are transplanted, by which means
they have the s tart and advantage of the potatoes and weeds, and as they come in early, may be gathered
before they can possibly incommode or injure the potatoes. (P ra c tica l H in ts , &c. p. 17.)
3576. M a n u a l process. “ The work of sowing is most generally effected by a dibble, having a thick
blunt end, to make a wide aperture for each bean, to admit it clean to the bottom, without any narrow
hollow part below : strike the earth fully and regularly into th e holes, over the inserted beans. Or the
planting may be performed occasionally in drills drawn with a hoe th e proper depth and distance as
above : place the beans a t intervals along th e bottom of each drill, and earth them over evenly ; which
method, though suitable to any kinds, may be more particularly adopted in sowing the early and other
small sorts.”
3576. S o a k ing seed in s um m e r . “ In planting late crops in June and July, if the weather be dry, it is
eligible to give the beans a previous soaking for several hours in soft water ; or, if they are to be sown in
drills, water the drills beforehand, then directly put in the beans, and earth them in while th e ground
remains moist.”
3577. Subsequent c u ltu r e . “ As th e plants come up, and advance from 2 in. to 4 in. or 6 in. high, hoe
up some earth to the stems on both sides of each row, cutting down all weeds. Repeat the hoeing as
future weeds arise, both to keep the ground about the plants clean, and to loosen the earth to encourage
their growth. In earthing up, great care must be taken that the earth do not fall on the centre of the
plant so as to bury it ; for this occasions it to ro t or fail. After earthing np, stir between the rows with
a three-pronged fork. As the different crops come into full blossom, pinch or cut oft’the tops, iu order
to promote their fruiting sooner, in a more plentiful production of weli-filied pods.” (A be rc rombie .)
Nicol says, “ topping is unnecessary for any but the early crops ; being practised to render them more
early.” Most gardeners, however, are of opimon, th at topping improves th e crop both in quantity ancl
quality.
3578. T o fo rw a r d a n e a r ly aw p , see this article under P e a (3559.).
3579. To p roduc e a v e r y late crop. Neill mentions an expedient sometimes resorted to to produce a
late crop. A compartment of beans is fixed on ; and when th e flowers appear, the plants are entirely cut
over, a few inches from th e surface of the ground. New stems spring from the stools, ancl these produce
a very late crop of beans. By the same means the beau has bqen rendered biennial.
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