BEANS. 475 



BEANS. 



BEANS, as a field crop, are cultivated considerably in this country, but not to the 

 extent that they are in Europe. They are an important product, and should be 

 more generally grown by farmers than they are at present. As an article of food 

 for man and farm stock, they are very nutritious. Sheep are very fond of them, and will 

 also eat the straw or the dried vines and pods. It should never be fed to them, however, 

 when mouldy or musty. Beans are also one of the best known substitutes for a meat diet. 

 They are easily cultivated, are not comparatively an exhaustive crop, and may be grown on 

 very poor land. On soils of less than medium fertility, and with but little cultivation, large 

 crops may be produced, and they are a product which will always bring a fair price in the 

 market. As has previously been stated, beans will grow and produce crops on very poor 

 soil, but will prove more remunerative when grown on one of moderate fertility, and to 

 which they are best adapted. 



The two general varieties of beans are the dwarf or bush bean, requiring no support for 

 their vines, and the pole -bean or climbing varieties, requiring support. Between these are 

 intermediate varieties. The pole-bean is never cultivated as a field crop. The varieties of 

 the field-bean are not large, and there is probably not much difference in their profit, except 

 it be from local circumstances, where certain varieties may be more in demand in the market 

 than others. As a general rule, the large seeded varieties are less reliable and require a 

 longer season to mature than the small. As the cultivation of the garden varieties will be 

 given in another department, they will not be mentioned here. 



The kinds most generally grown as a field crop are the small white, the kidney, and the 

 marrow. The first-mentioned is an early variety, very small, and yields well. The second 

 is of medium size and somewhat better quality, but not as early or productive. The marrow 

 is a large, round bean of quite good quality, rather late in maturing, and of fair yield. The 

 small white bean is most generally cultivated as a field crop. There are other varieties of 

 local popularity. In the vicinity of Boston, an early kind, known as the &quot;yellow-eyed bean,&quot; 

 is extensively cultivated. It is of medium size and white, except a slight yellow ring about 

 the eye. The plant branches out quite high, is a strong and vigorous grower, and the pods 

 are kept at a greater distance from the soil than most of the other bush varieties. They are, 

 therefore, less liable to be injured by the wet. The English field-bean, called also the &quot;horse- 

 bean,&quot; is rarely cultivated in the United States, as the climate here is too dry and warm, but 

 is grown to a considerable extent in Canada. 



Cultivation. A light, warm, dry soil, or that of a sandy nature is best adapted to the 

 cultivation of beans. On soils that are heavy or highly manured the tendency is to produce 

 a heavy growth of vines and foliage, rather than the seed, whereas a comparatively light soil 

 of the proper quality will promote greater productiveness and earlier maturity. Stable- 

 manure is objectionable as a fertilizer for this reason. Superphosphate of lime is highly 

 recommended for this crop. 



The land should be plowed some weeks in advance of planting, in order to give the seed 

 of weeds an opportunity to make their appearance, when they can be destroyed by the use of 

 the harrow or cultivator, and be afterwards kept in subjection with much less labor. The 

 soil should be finely pulverized before the seed is deposited. Wet lands are objectionable 

 for this crop, but if necessary to use soil containing a surplus of moisture for this purpose, 

 the surface should be ridged in order to secure better drainage. The best results are to be 

 obtained on a warm, dry soil. 



The proper time for planting depends upon the season. &quot;While peas will bear consider- 

 ble frost, beans, being of inter-tropical origin, are very tender and are easily killed by the 



