366 Agricultural Experiment Station, Ithaca, N. Y. 



stable manure is used, it should be applied in the fall in order that 

 it may become thoroughly incorporated with the soil and be ready 

 for use at the earliest moment in the spring. 



We had an excellent chance last year to study the effects of moist 

 soil upon Lima beans. Our experimental plantation ran through a 

 low place on to a dry, sandy elevation. The soil was the same 

 formation throughout the plantation, but in the sag it had become 

 somewhat enriched by the washings of the higher lands. This sag 

 was so dry and so well drained that it never held water, and the 

 season was characterized by a prolonged drought ; yet, in spite of 

 these facts, the beans in this sag were at least three or four weeks 

 later than those upon the dryer end of the plantation, and some 

 varieties did not ripen a single pod in this spot. It should be said, 

 however, that the soil throughout this plantation was very 

 thoroughly tilled all during the season so that the moisture upon 

 the high land was conserved to the greatest possible extent. Lima 

 beans delight in hot, dry weather, if only they have an opportunity 

 of getting their roots deeply into the soil before dry weather comes 

 on, and if they are given frequent shallow tillage for a time. 



Whilst it is essential that the Lima beans should be given the 

 longest season possible, it is nevertheless futile to plant them be- 

 fore the weather is thoroughly settled ; for, even though the seeds 

 may germinate, the young plants will be seriously checked by 

 inclement weather. We prefer to plant them a week or ten days 

 after it is safe to plant the ordinary bush garden beans. AVe have 

 our ground very thoroughly prepared, plant them about an inch 

 deep in about twice the quantity which we desire to have them 

 stand, and then expect to keep them growing rapidly until they 

 have reached the tops of the stakes or trellis. If we use stakes, 

 we plant the beans in hills about three feet apart and the rows 

 about four feet apart, dropping seven or eight beans in each hill. 

 When the beans are well up, and danger from bad weather and 

 cut-worms is past, we pull out all but three or four. The poles 

 should not be more than six feet high. If they are taller than 

 this, they are not only expensive to procure and hard to keep in 

 place, but the beans will run too high and grow too late. When 

 the beans reach the tops of poles which are five or six feet high, 

 the ends of the vines swing out horizontally and the growth is 

 checked, and the setting of fruit is thereby, no doubt, hastened. 

 It is the practice of many persons to clip back the ends of the 



