t five or six beans in each hill; being careful
to set each bean with its germ downward, and covering an inch deep.
After they have grown a while, and before they begin to run, pull up the
weakest, and leave but three of the most vigorous plants to a hill. As
these increase in height, they should, if necessary, be tied to the
stakes, or poles, using bass-matting, or other soft, fibrous material,
for the purpose. When they have ascended to the tops of the poles, the
ends should be cut or pinched off; as also the ends of all the branches,
whenever they rise above that height. This practice checks their
liability to run to vines, and tends to make them blossom earlier, and
bear sooner and more abundantly, than they otherwise would do."

In tropical climates, the Lima Bean is perennial.

GREEN LIMA.

A sub-variety of the Common Lima, differing principally in the pea-green
color of the seeds.

As generally found in the market, the seeds of the Common and Green Lima
are more or less intermixed. By some, the Green is considered more
tender, and thought to remain longer on the plants without becoming
hard, than the White. The habits of the plants are the same, and there
is no difference in the season of maturity. A careful selection of seeds
for planting, and skilful culture, would undoubtedly give a degree of
permanency to this difference in color; which appears to be the
principal, if not the only, point of variation.

MOTTLED LIMA.

This, like the Green, is a sub-variety of the Common Lima. The ripe
seeds are dull-white or greenish-white, mottled and clouded with purple.

In the habit of the plant, in the foliage, pods, form, or size of the
seeds, or season of maturity, there are no marks of distinction when
compared with the Common Lima.

* * * * *

SCARLET-RUNNER.

Phaseolus multiflorus.

From South America. Though nearly allied to the Common Kidney-bean, it
is considered by botanists a distinct species; differing in its
inflorescence, in the form of its pods, and particularly in the fact
that the cotyledons, or lobes of the planted seed, do not rise to the
surface of the ground in the process of germination. It is, besides, a
perennial plant. The roots are tuberous, and, though small, not unlike
those of the Dahlia.

If taken up before frost in the autumn, they may be preserved in a
conservatory, or warm parlor or sitting-room, during winter, and reset
in the open ground