LEGUMES FOR SEED 225 



the beans are covered with mellow earth at this time, they will 

 usually come through again without injury. By harrowing 

 before the plants are up, and by careful cultivation at the right 

 time, hand hoeing may be largely, if not entirely, avoided. 



As the plants become older, they should not be cultivated while 

 the leaves are wet with dew or rain, for fear of spreading an- 

 thracnose. When dry, the anthracnose spores are held fast by a 

 gummy substance, but which is at once dissolved by water, thus 

 setting free the spores. Any disturbance of the plant when wet 

 will therefore scatter the spores and spread the disease. 1 If 



Bean harvester. It gathers two rows at a time and bunches the vines by means of 

 attached rake 



the field had been thoroughly "tended," it is best not to culti- 

 vate after beans come in blossoms; if necessary to cultivate 

 later, wait until the blossoms have set. 



269. Harvesting. Beans may be pulled by hand, but the 

 bean harvester which pulls or cuts two rows at a time is now 

 generally used. As pulled, they are collected in small piles. 

 Subsequently they are placed in larger piles, and when dry 

 are stored in the barn. If wet weather ensues, the piles must be 

 turned frequently, since if the pods remain in contact with the 

 ground seeds are discolored and their sale injured. 



York Cornell Sta. Bui. No. 239 (1906), p. 204. 



