MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I914. 1 5 



of Old Fashioned Yellow Eye beans. A great deal of difficulty 

 has been experienced by bean growers in securing strains which 

 would come even reasonably true to seed. In spite of careful 

 seed selection for many years strains of these beans often con- 

 tinue to throw small numbers of black, solid yellow, mottled 

 or white beans every year. Many of the large growers complain 

 that in order to secure a good price for their crop it is necessary 

 to hand-pick their beans every year. 



At the time our work was started it was believed that it would 

 be a relatively simple matter to secure pure-breeding strains but 

 our experience has shown that this is not the case. It was gen- 

 erally believed that the bean flower was normally self -fertilized : 

 that is, the pistil or female portion of the flower was fertilized 

 by pollen from the same flower. It was believed that this 

 fertilization took place before the blossom opened. Three years 

 ago we found that this is not always the case but that cross- 

 pollination could be brought about by bumble-bees. 



For this reason it has been necessary to carry on the bean 

 breeding under other conditions. In 191 3 there was built at 

 Highmoor a bean cage 25 x 50 feet which was enclosed on both 

 roof and sides with screen wire. This effectually excludes all 

 insects which might cross-pollinate the bean flowers. 



Last year (1913) a number of strains of Old Fashioned Yel- 

 low Eye beans were grown under this cage. A few of these 

 appeared to be breeding true. These strains have been tested 

 further this year. Those which have proved to be true to type 

 will be multiplied in isolated plots next year so that there will be 

 no danger of crossing. In order to maintain such a strain pure 

 it will be necessary for the grower to plant only one kind of 

 beans or at least to have the different kinds so separated that 

 there will be no danger of crossing by the bumble-bees. 



The Station has also been working upon a set of standards 

 for yellow eyed beans. There is a great difference of opinion 

 among the growers of the state as to what is tne best type for 

 the Old Fashioned and the Improved Yellow Eye beans. While 

 every grower is entitled to his own opinion as to the best type, 

 yet it is true that certain types bring a much better price on the 

 market. During the past several years both the growers and 

 the dealers have been consulted regarding this question and it is 

 hoped that the data so obtained will aid in establishing better 



