THE VEGETABLE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20242, 30 April 1929, Page 5

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN.

CULTURE OF BROAD BEANS.

BY F. 5.11,

As a vegetable tho broad bean is very popular, but as a crop to cultivate it is not in the forefront, to such an extent, as failures are recorded frequently. In a great number of cases, the failures arc due to faulty methods of culture. In a number of failures tho cause is that the. flowers arc not pollinated effectively and so the pods do not develop.

Tito grower should make sure the flowers arc pollinated by using a camel-hair brush. This may be purchased for a few pence; it is, in fact, a brush such ns is used for water-colour painting. Isy means of this one can brush tho interior of each flower so that pollen is deposited on each stigma. This will not be found quite such a hard task and may bo the means of making the next crops pronounced suc-

]f is about time that intending growers made a move toward getting the ground prepared in readiness for sowing the seed. The time for sowing extends until the end of August. It is desirable to maintain a succession of beans, and this may bo done by making small sowings every three weeks. This will mean about five sowings altogether if advantage is taken of the full sowing period. The Earlier Crops. For the earlier crops in particular a warm, sunny position should bo chosen, to be prepared before the winter season is too far advanced. If grown in a cool position the crop will not make much development during the winter and will consequently be late in coming into production. There is nothing which influences the growth of the plants to the same extent as warmth.

The soil should first be dug over deeply to improve the drainage and thus promote root action. The encouragement of root action governs the growth of the plants, the root action is governed by the warmth of the soil, and this in turn is dependent on the drainage of the ground. Of course there are other factors which must be taken into account, but which have little influence if the soil is not kept welldrained. Trenching is preferable to digging if the soil is of a heavy nature.

Wherever possible one should choose a site which, besides being in a warm posiI tion, has been vacated by a crop for which it was liberally enriched. One crop which suggests itself is summer cabbage. If the plot has had most of the goodness ; taken out of it by the preceding crop, I some compost may be worked in for the i second or third sowings of broad beans. 1 For the first sowing it is doubtful whether j there will be time for the compost to be- | come thoroughly incorporated with the l soil before the seed is sown. It is recom- | mended that artificial fertilisers be used j in this case. Use of Blood and Bone. Blood and bone manure may be used | for this purpose at the rate of to 2oz | per square yard. This may lie applied , at the time of sowing and worked into the soil in the drill. Where the soil con- | tains sufficient nitrogenous .manure to ; satisfy the demands of the bean, the blood ; and bone may be replaced by superphosphate at the same rate per square yard. I Phosphorus is the chief food required to : grow a good crop of beans, this being supplied in both the fertilisers mentioned above.

! The selection of varieties will depend lon whether tlie grower prefers large or [ small beans. Certain varieties have short, ; broad pods containing about three large I beans, while others have longer pods coni taming a larger number of small beans. ! Of tlie large" beans the Broad Windsor is ! a good variety, while the Early Long Pod ; and the Exhibition Long Pod varieties are | good samples of the small beans.

Before the seed is sown it will be found a good idea to soak it in warm water for a few hours, as this will help the seed to germinate more quickly. Once the process of germination has commenced the seed will not be nearly as liable to rot as it would if sown in the ordinary way in moist soil. Gardeners are warned against using very hot. water in which to soak the seed, as this will literally cook them and destroy the germ. Water slightly above blood heat is the most suitable and will soften the seedcoat satisfactorily and make the egress of the young shoot easy. Methods of Sowing.

There are two methods by which iho broad bean seed may be sown, the amount of space available for the row being the deciding factor. If the beans are being grown between two crops which are not much more than 'lft. apart it will be better to adopt the single-row method, placing the seeds about 6in. apart in the row. Broad bean seeds are planted individually, as they are large and easily handled. Apart from this, they must not be sown thickly, or the close crowing plants would invite fungous attacks.

The second method of sowing can be used when the row will have 3ft. of space, i.e.. when grown between crops at least 6ft. apart. Place the seed 6in. apart in two rows alternately, the rows being fnim 6iu. to Bin. apart. The double row saves ;i great deal of space, and so is to lie preferred. It is not a success, however, under cramped conditions.

The plants should he sprayed periodically with Bordeaux, 4-4-40. to prevent attacks of rust. After they attain a height of about I2in. they will require support, as blustery weather would do considerable damage to ihem. As mentioned above, artificial pollination is also necessary. The reason for this is that the bumble bee. which is chiefly responsible for the pollination of the broad bean, frequently shirks its duty by puncturing the flower at the base in order to obtain the nectar, instead of pushing its way down into the centre, during which the pollen is brushed on to the stigma and the flower pollinated.