EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 311 



The Kobiiist selections that were included in the varietal series are all 

 considerably higher in yield than the earlier varieties. There are only 

 five daj^s' difference between these classes. The problem is, does the fanner 

 need an early variety, or conld he plant the Kobnst bean a week earlier 

 and have them ripen in good season. 



The Early Wonder is the best known and most widely grown of the 

 earlier class of beans. The last column expresses the results obtained in 

 the form of percents of Early Wonder. This shows considerable variation 

 (or a range of 12.8 percent), among the earlier varieties. The Crawford 

 and Hunter are just as early as Early Wonder and yield 8 percent more 

 beans. If there is a need for these early lieans the hig'hest yielders should 

 be used. For this reason the Crawford and Hunter beans should be 

 tested in those sections of the State where earliness is a factor in ripening. 



The Crawford comes from Breckenridge, Gratiot county, and the Hunter 

 comes from Sandusky, Sanilac county. 



When we come to compaTe Early Wonder with Robust No. 40520, it is 

 observed that the latter has produced on tlie average of one and a half 

 times as many beans per acre as the Early Wonder. 



The 40520 strain will be used as the check in a new varietal series be- 

 ginning 1021. Of tlie beans listed in Table ITT only Robust No. 4051 1, and 

 No. 40520 will be included. All other varieties will be dropped. The ncAV 

 strains entering the varietal series, originated from breeding work 

 running back eight years, and from individual ]dantis, selected out of 

 farmers' fields in 1918. 



THE BEAN AND ITS SURROUNDINGS. 



The baan is one of the most sensitive crops to its isurroundings. To 

 have a good cwp, there must be an al)nndance of available plant food, 

 and a suitable tem]ierature for raqud development ait the time that tlie 

 beans are planted. For best results the bean plant muist not be retarded 

 in growth. The best location is a clover sod plowed down in tlie fall or 

 early in the spring and thoroughly worked, up to bean planting season, 

 Tlie seed bed should be thoroughly fitted before the crop is planted. 

 Weeds are thus more easily controlled, and available jilant food i)repared 

 for the seed. The seed should be clean, free of beans carrying blight and 

 anthracnose, and also of immature and damaged beans. 



The time of planting Robust is very important. A good harvest time 

 shonld be considered at planting time. The crop requires a hundred 

 days between planting and harvest. Middle September is usually a good 

 time to harvest and cure the beans. By the first of October there is a 

 greater danger that frosts and storms may injure the crop. For this 

 reaison Robust beans should be planted during the first week of June or 

 earlier, if the ground is well prepared and warm enough for immediate 

 germination. If planting of Robust is delayed until much after the 

 middle of June, early frosts and storms may injure the crop. 



Care must be taken not to pull the beans too soon. Leaves hinder 

 curing and in wet weather will hold a surplus of water. In the case of 

 the Robust, the leaves may be safely allowed to drop entirely before 

 pulling. In the case of Early Wonder and beans of its class, the leaves 

 will not all drop off, but should be nearly gone at harvest time. The de- 

 foliated crop can. now be quickly pulled, cured and boused for threshing, 



