164 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



THE BEAN (Fhaseolus vulgaris). 



The bean is often a field crop in this country, and espe 

 cially in the northern and middle States. It is principally 

 used for the table, either green or dry. It is a palatable and 

 highly condensed food, containing much in a small compass. 

 In proportion to its weight, it gives mtfre nutriment than 

 any of the ordinary vegetables ; according to Einhof, yield- 

 ing 84 per cent, of nutritive matter, while wheat gives only 

 74. It has, in common with the pea and vetch, though in a 

 greater proportion, a peculiar principle, termed legumin, 

 which is analogous to casein, the animal principle in milk. 

 This is convertible into cheese, and in its nutritive proper- 

 ties, it is essentially the same as the fibrin of lean meat, the 

 albumen of eggs, and other animal matters. There is no 

 vegetable we produce, which so nearly supplies the place 

 of animal food, as the bean. 



Soil. The bean is partial to a quick, dry soil. Too great 

 strength of soil, or fresh manuring, gives a large quantity 

 of vine, without a corresponding quantity of fruit. 



Cultivation. The land should be finely pulverized, and 

 if at all inclined to wet, it should be ridged. Beans are 

 tender plants and will not bear the slightest frost, and as they 

 grow rapidly, they will be sure to ripen, if planted when 

 this is no longer to be apprehended. The seed is exposed 

 to rot if put into the ground in cold, wet weather, and the 

 land should, therefore, be previously well warmed by the sun. 

 The bush beans are the only kind used for field planting, 

 and of these there are several sub-varieties. The long gar- 

 den beans, white, red or mottled, are great bearers, of fine 

 quality, and early in maturing. This is important, when 

 other crops are to succeed the same season. They are usu- 

 ally planted in hills, about two feet apart, and also in drills, 

 and covered with two inches of -fine earth. They have been 

 sown broadcast, on clean, dry soils, and produced largely. 

 When planted in drills, from fi^je to eight plants should be 

 left in each, according to their proximity ; or if in drills, they 

 need from six to eight pecks of seed to the acre. 



Harvesting. When the beans are fully formed, and 

 there is danger of frost, pull and throw them into heaps, in 

 which condition the frost scarcely affects them. If the 

 ground is not wanted for other uses, they may stand till the 

 latest pods assume a yellow color. They are pulled with 

 ease when the plant is mature, as the fibres of the root are 



