and if put out with care as soon as mild weather occurs in May, will make good progress and yield an early crop.  The seed for this purpose should be sown in rather light turfy soil, as the plants may then be lifted without injury to their fleshy roots.  Careful treatment will be desirable for some time after they are planted, such as protection from sun and frost, and watering, if necessary, although the less watering the better, provided the plants can hold their ground.  The plot to which these early sowings are to be transplanted should be light and rich, and lying towards the sun; open the lines with the spade or hoe in preference to using the dibber, and as fast as the roots are dropped into their places with their balls of earth unbroken, carefully restore the fine soil from the surface.  Rough handling will seriously interfere with the ultimate result, but ordinary care will insure abundant gatherings of first-class produce at a time when there are but few in the market.  On dry soils a small sowing may be made about the second week of April on a sheltered south border.  Sow in double rows six inches apart, and allow a distance of two feet between the double rows.  When the seedlings appear give protection if necessary, and in due course thin the plants to six inches apart in the rows.

==Main crops== are sown from the last week in April to the middle of June.  The distance for the rows may be from one and a half to two feet apart, according to the vigour of the variety, the strongest growers requiring fully two feet, and the distance between the plants may be eight to twelve inches; therefore it is well to sow the seed two to three inches apart, and thin out as soon as the rough leaves appear.  The ground being in fairly good condition, it will only be necessary to chop over the surface, if at all lumpy, and with the hoe draw drills about two inches deep, which is far better than dibbling, except on very light soil, when dibbling about three inches deep is quite allowable.  Generally speaking, if the plot be kept clean, the Beans will take care of themselves; but in droughty weather a heavy watering now and then will be visibly beneficial, for although the plant bears drought well, it is like other good things in requiring something to live upon.  In exposed situations and where storms are prevalent, it is an excellent practice to support the plants with bushy twigs.

==Late Crops.==—­To extend the outdoor supply sowings may be made early in July.  When the ground has become dry and hard, it is advisable to soak the seed in water for five or six hours; the drills should also be watered, and, if possible, the ground should be covered with rotten dung, spent hops, or some other mulchy stuff to promote and sustain vegetation.

==The gathering of the crop== should be a matter of discipline.  Where it is done carelessly, there will very soon be none to gather, for the swelling of a few seeds in neglected pods will cause the plants to cease bearing.  Therefore all the Beans should be gathered when of a proper size, whether they are wanted or not; this is the only way to insure a long-continued supply of good quality both as to colour and tenderness.