318 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
entirely prevent the trouble. The same disease affects the cherry, 
and sometimes reduces the crop to nothing. 
Mr. Crane: What is the strength of the Bordeaux mixture that 
should be used? 
Prof. Lugger: The plum tree is one of a few trees that is in- 
jured by copper, therefore one has to be careful, but if applied early 
in the season, before the leaves are out, the tree will not be injured. 
THE CULTURE OF BEANS. 
Cc. F. GRANNIS, VERNON CENTER. 
The selection of a suitable piece of land is perhaps of the most im- 
portance in the raising of a good crop of beans. We often hear persons, 
in speaking of poor land, say, “It will not raise white beans,’ which might 
be said of most of the soil in this part of the state, but not because it is 
poor soil. 
While we do raise some beans, our soil is not by any means well adapted 
to bean culture; this I discovered some years ago, and perhaps my experi- 
ence may be of some benefit to others. 
I have a small field of river bottom land, the most of which is very rich, 
but one end overflows sometimes and washes badly and is not very produc- 
tive. I planted a patch of beans in this field, the rows running the long way, 
some being on the rich land and some on the poor part of the field. Both 
had the same culture, were plowed with a one-horse plow, hoed and kept 
reasonably clean from weeds. When I came to harvest them, I found on 
the poor soil the vines were covered with pods and scarcely any leaves, 
while on the rich land there were plenty of leaves and but few pods, the only 
apparent cause for this being the difference in soil. I afterwards put a heavy 
coat of manure on the poor part of the field and this year planted it to 
beans again. ‘Fhe result is only a moderate crop of beans, the effect of the 
manure being plainly seen in the growth of leaves. 
As regards culture, I shall have but little to say. Plant after danger 
of frost is past and cultivate well. 
The manufacturers of weeders recommend their use in cultivating beans. 
I have never tried them, but am inclined to think they would do well, as they 
thoroughly stir the whole surface of the soil. The harvesting should be 
done as soon as the pods are mostly ripe and before frost, if possible. There 
are bean harvesters, but I have never used them, so I cannot speak from 
experience. I have always pulled by hand, and think possibly I am far 
behind the times, but for the few we raise here we could not afford to buy 
much machinery. : 
They should be stacked by setting a tall pole firmly in the ground. Pile 
the beans around it, making the stacks not large, but as high as you can, 
and cover well with coarse grass, or anything else that will shed rain well. 
As soon as well dried, thresh by hand or machine, according to the 
amount raised. 
In regard to the best kind. I had a tree bean some years ago that had 
a stiff stalk and stood up well from the ground, which prevented the soil 
from being spattered on the pods during rain storms, which will cause the 
pods to rust. I have also raised the small navy bean, and the quality is 
excellent; but the best kind is the “baked bean” of the Boston variety. 
