RUNNER BEANS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 18, 30 October 1912, Page 39

RUNNER BEANS.

The runner bean is one of the most useful of our summer vegetables and is easily cultivated by the amateur. Before planting trenches should be prepared in tire same way as one would for celery, bearing in mind that this is a deep-rooting subject, and the roots will penetrate to a great depth if something tempting is placed below for them. Mr. E. Becket, a wellknown authority, gives the following advice upon cultivation, etc.:— "The trenches should be taken out two feet wide and at least two feet in depth, anil the bottom, whatever it may be, should be thoroughly broken up with a fork. Well-decayed' farmyard manure should be placed therein, to the depth of about eighteen inches, and left in this condition until about a week before the planting is carried out. This should then be made thoroughly firm, and tin* best soil available should be placed on the top, about four to five inches in depth. Ample room should be allowed between

the trenches, from ten to fifteen feet being none too much. Planting. Two lines of plants should be put in each trench, ami from a foot to fifteen inches apart. Plant very firmly, give a thorough watering in, and place some finely sifted cinder ashes round each plant as a preventive against’ the attacks of slugs. Staking. A common mistake, too frequently made, is that of not providing runner beans with a sufficient length of*support. Long brush sticks, the same as generally used for supporting peas, are often used, the result generally being that the tops double over, which means that sun and light is excluded, and the bearing is much impaired. Allow a height of from ten to fifteen feet, if possible; the stakes should be well inserted into the ground, and stout poles at regular intervals be driven in to help steady them against winds and gales. The plants should be damped over each afternoon till they become well established, should the weather be dry. Mulching. Immediately the beans commence to crop a good surface dressing of thoroughly decayed manure, and a small quantity of bonemeal mixed with the same, should be placed between the plants, while between the rows a good

dressing of long stable litter should be given. Immediately the beans reach the top of the sticks they should be stopped to induce lateral growths. Watering. Abundance of water should be given during the cropping season in dry weather, both clear and in a liquid manure form. The drainings from a farmyard with soot added, and properly diluted, will be found to suit them admirably, and during wet seasons apply patent vegetable manures in the quantities recommended by the vendors.