1562 The Cornell Reading-Courses 



general nilc, however, early planting is not to be recommended. The 

 seeds rot, quickly if the soil is too cold or too wet for quick germination, 

 and even though there is a fair stand, the young plants do not get an even 

 start because the stronger seeds start first and the weaker ones later. If 

 planting is delayed until the soil is thoroughly warmed and in condition 

 to produce quick germination and rapid growth, an even start is obtained, 

 and a large number of pods or seeds may be harvested at each picking. 



Nearly all growers plant beans, except limas, in drills, which are about 

 twenty-eight inches apart, though the distance varies from twenty-four 

 to thirty-two inches. Lima beans are planted in drills from three to four 

 feet apart. If the beans are to be cultivated with hand tools, the drills 

 may be less than twenty-four inches apart. It is important that the rows 

 should be straight and that the seeding should not be too thick. From 

 four to eight seeds per foot of row is enough. If comparatively small 

 plantings are made, the well-known planters operated by man power are 

 used, and they may be adjusted to plant the beans in drills or in hills at 

 the required depth, about one to one and one-half inches. If plantings 

 are made on a large scale, the ordinary grain drill is widely used, especially 

 for planting the smaller varieties, by closing some of the tubes. In some 

 cases special bean planters are used, particularly for lima beans and other 

 large sorts. The amount of seed required per acre varies slightly with 

 the variety — for pea beans from two to three pecks is the correct amount, 

 for kidney and other similar beans from five to six pecks, and for lima 

 beans six pecks. If the seed has strong germinating power, and if the 

 soil is in prime condition, it is evident that a smaller amount of seed is 

 required to get a good stand than if the seed is poor and soil conditions 

 less favorable. If the hill system is to be used, from three to five seeds 

 should be dropped from every twelve to fifteen inches in the row. On a 

 small plot, which is to be worked by hand, the hill system may be 

 adopted, and the rows may be only eighteen inches apart. 



Cultivation. — If soil conditions are favorable, beans come up quickly, 

 and cultivation may begin as soon as possible. When the young plants 

 first appear above ground, they are tender and break easily; therefore 

 care should be used in working among them. The culture required by 

 beans is similar to that of other intertilled crops. Cultivation should 

 be frequent enough to keep the weeds from starting and a crust from 

 forming on the surface of the soil; for in this way, moisture that was held 

 in the soil by early plowing and harrowing may be conserved. Cultivation 

 should be shallow because the bean roots are relatively surface feeders. 

 Beans should not be cultivated while their leaves are wet with dew or rain, 

 for at that time disease may be can-ied by the tools from plant to plant 

 and from field to field. On small patches man-power tools may be used, 



