SEED IMPROVEMENT MEETING. 255 



the improved. We call 25 bushels per acre a good yield with 

 the old fashioned variety. We cannot raise that every year. 

 Two years ago we averaged that on six acres ; last year we got 

 a little over 20 bushels. This year I doubt if they average any 

 more, although on the first setting of the pods they never looked 

 so well, but the blight struck them. 



Q. What do you use for fertilizer ? 



A. Mostly we mix our own chemicals. Three years ago we 

 bought the ready mixed goods, but for three years we have 

 mixed our own chemicals. The formula used for the last two 

 years is : Nitrate of soda, 100 pounds ; tankage, 500 pounds ; 

 bone, 400 pounds ; acid phosphate, 600 pounds, and potash, 400 

 pounds. 



Q. What kind of land do you get the best bean crop on ? 



A. I think the bean crop with us has been very good about 

 adapting itself to the soil, except for two years when we had 

 some light land in pasture that we broke up, and they did not 

 seem to pod very well there. As they got ready to fill, the dry 

 weather came on and upset the filling. I think we only got 

 about 10 bushels to the acre. 



Q. Which would be the better, a sandy or clay loam? 



A. If the sandy loam was not the kind affected by drouth, I 

 think that would be better. Ours is what we call gravelly loam. 



O. How heavily do you seed? 



A. With the old fashioned yellow-eyes it takes about three 

 pecks to the acre. 



Q. What did the machinery cost? 



A. Our little thresher at that time cost $42.50 cash in Min- 

 neapolis. The harvester we used is an attachment to the Amer- 

 ican cultivator. That cost $10 delivered at our station. 



