Phaseolus vulgaris. Haricot, Fr. Schminkbohne, Ger. Judias, Span. Faguiolo, Ital.

"Of the Snap-Short Bean, the Haricot of the French, the varieties and sub-varieties are numerous. Those enumerated in the Catalogue annexed, are such as we esteem most worthy; they consist of the earliest, the latest, and those which ripen intermediately. The Early Mohawk or Brown Six Weeks arrives soonest at perfection, and is the hardiest of the early ones; the Early Yellow, Red Speckled Valentine, and China Red Eye, immediately succeed. The Red French is about the latest: the other varieties ripen promiscuously. All the kinds are brought to the Philadelphia market; some purchasers preferring one, and others another. The Red Speckled Valentine is a variety very generally admired; it is round podded, without strings, an abundant bearer, and remains tender longer than most others. The Brown Valentine or Refugee, is also an excellent variety, as also the China Red Eye. The pods of the Red French are used as well for pickling as boiling, and the beans throughout the winter in a dry state, as haricots, and in soups, for which it is usually preferred.

"The usual plan of cultivating this tribe, is in drills double or single, placing two seeds together at intervals of two or three inches: two to two and a half feet should be allowed between the drills. They are much more tender than the Long Pod or Windsor, and will not succeed, if planted before the weather has become somewhat settled, and the earth warm; in the latitude of Philadelphia, not earlier than April, unless in very dry ground, and protected situations. To have a constant supply, it will be necessary to plant successive crops at intervals of two or three weeks, which is much preferable to planting but seldom, and then a larger quantity. Plantations made so late as 1st August, generally succeed and yield abundantly.

"When they have risen three or four inches, give them a careful hoeing, to destroy all weeds, and loosen the earth. At this time, or shortly after, draw towards the base of the plants, some of the loose soil, to the depth of one or two inches. This process is termed "landing,"" and is highly beneficial in protecting the roots from excessive drought, and the direct rays of the sun. As the crop approaches maturity, nothing more is required than an occasional hoeing, observing always to keep the ground free from weeds.

"In selecting a spot to plant beans, choose where the soil is light and tolerably dry. If it be poor, apply a good dressing of well rotted manure, either spread over the entire surface, or placed in the drills when drawn out." - Rural Register.

Forcing

The hot-bed must be of moderate size, and covered with earth nine inches thick. When the heat has become regular, the seed may be inserted in drills a foot apart, and the plants allowed to stand six inches asunder in the rows. Air must be admitted as freely as to the melon. The same precautions are likewise necessary as to keeping up the temperature, taking the chill off the water etc., as for that plant. When the seed begins to sprout, the mould should be kept regularly moistened ; and when grown up, water may be given moderately, three times a week. The temperature should never be less than 60°, nor higher than 75°. Some plants of the hot-bed sowing at the end of March, are often, after being gradually hardened, planted in a warm border: this will at most hasten the plants in production a fortnight before those sown in the open ground in May.

Those sown under frames in March for transplanting into a border, when two or three inches in height, must in a like manner be hardened gradually for the exposure, by the plentiful admission of air, and the total removal of the glasses during fine days. If any are raised in pots in the hot-house, they must in a like manner be prepared for the removal, by setting them outside in fine days, and there watering them with cold water.

If the season is too ungenial after all to remove them even to a warm border, the plants are often inserted in patches, to have the protection of frames or hand lights at night, or as the weather demands.