ol4 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



ridges are then partly leveled by means of a board attached to a plow 

 beam, taking two at a time, or by hoe or rake. To avoid repetition 

 (when manuring in the drill and planting on ridges are mentioned licrti 

 after), the above operations must be understood to have preceded the 

 sowing of seed or setting of plants. 



If a seed drill can be arranged to work accurately and satisfactorily 

 its use is the cheapest and most expeditious method. Otherwise tin' 

 beans are dropped in an open drill 3 inches apart and covered about LI 

 inches deep. 



The cultivator may be run between the rows when the plants are 3 or 

 4 inches high, and just before tiie buds appear the plow and hoe shouhl 

 be used to land up, or draw soil to the stems. 



The pods should be picked while yet tender enough to "sugh " before 

 the seed commence to bulge, and the operation should be performed with 

 as little disturbance to the roots as possible. 



Beans are more liable to shrink than any other vegetable and a little 

 wilting prior to packing is not objectionable. They should be laid as 

 regularly as possible without too much loss of time, and thoroughly 

 shaken down and firmly packed. About six pickings are made in the 

 three weeks of the crop. \ 



A fair yield is 150 crates, and prices range from $1 to $4 per crate, 

 according to demand and earliness. The returns from beans was very 

 poor last season, a part of the crop not being worth the picking. 



The insects depredating upon the bean plant do not affect the truck 

 farmer to any extent, except the Bean- weevil, which sometimes destroys 

 the seed germ. 



They are as follows : (1) The Bean- weevil {Bruchus fdbm) ; (2) the 

 Yellow Bear Caterpillar {Spilosoma virginica) ; (3) the Fall Web-worm 

 {Rlipliantria textor), and (4) the Blister-beetles, striped and ash-colored 

 and the margined {Lytta vittata^ L. cinerea, L. mdrginata). 



The Beet {Beta vulgaris). 



The beet has not been grown for shipment south of Norfolk to any ex- 

 tent until within the last few years, although a regular Bermuda crop. 

 Of varieties, the Egyptian Q?urnip is preferred. It can be planted 

 earlier, but about January 1 to 10 is the safest time in the latitude of 

 Savannah. Like all long tap-rooted plants the beet delights in a deep, 

 rich, loose soil. A low, but well-drained mold is best suited to it. 



Beets require a nitrogenous fertili2er and about 30 loads to the acre 

 of well-rotted stable manure, or a composted commercial fertilizer of 

 1,500 pounds to the acre would answer the purpose. As this plant, lik(^ 

 asparagus, is a native of the sea-shore, an application of 12 bushels o! 

 salt would be beneficial at a distance from the coast. 



The seed are sown on ridges 30 to 36 inches apart, in order that {lie 

 stirring may be done with the cultivator. The plants should be thiiiiii'tl 

 to a stand of 4 to 6 inches and not be allowed to crowd each other. 

 Vacant spaces may be supplied by transplanting. When about 3 ijiche.-s 

 in diameter they are fuUy large enough to be shipped. The leaves are 

 cut off about 2 inches from the roots and the beets packed in bushel 

 crates or well-ventilated barrels covered with cloth. 



From $2.50 to $3 per crate were the highest prices per crate for 

 Georgia-grown beets the past season. 



The beet is remarkably free from aU insect depredations. 



