VEGETABLE ( HOPS. 679 



BEANS AND PEAS. 



Beans. 



There are a number of species of beans, all of which can be grown in 

 this State. The best known are the Broad bean, Kidney or Trench bean, 

 and Runner bean. The first named, which is grown for the seeds, does best 

 in the cooler portions of the State, or in warm districts as a winter crop. 

 The Kidney or Trench and Kunner beans are esteemed for the edibility of 

 their pod.-, and can only be grown in the warm seasons of the year, being 

 very susceptible to frost. 



The crop is influenced to a considerable extent by the quality of the soil, 

 a light, shallow soil giving much inferior returns to a rich alluvial one. 

 Bean plants of all kinds respond readily to dressings of manure, those that 

 are most beneficial being those containing phosphoric acid and potash. As 

 with all other legumes, there is little necessity for nitrogenous manures, 

 but some advantage in the use of lime. The crop has long been known to 

 farmers as an excellent soil-renovator, and it is particttlarly valuable in a 

 rotation. 



Farmyard manure cannot always be used with advantage in connection 

 with beans, its application, particularly on heavy soils, being apt to produce 

 too much leaf growth at the expense of the crop of pods. 



Kidney or French Beans, 



The first thing to take into consideration in bean culture is the prepara- 

 tion of the soil. It should be thoroughly ploughed twice, and harrowed; if 

 the season is inclined to be dry, and the land cloddy, the roller may be used 

 to advantage before planting. 



The soils best suited for growing beans differ considerably with the con- 

 ditions and the time of sowing. For instance, if an early spring crop is 

 required, a rich loam is found very suitable, as this class of soil is generally 

 sweeter in the spring than the low-lying lands. But if a summer crop is 

 required, then the lower lands are found to produce very prolific crops. 



Beans should be planted in rows, 2 ft. 6 in. apart, and from 3 to 6 inches 

 apart in the rows, according to the quality of the land, the thicker sowing 

 being made in the richer soils. They should be covered to a depth of 

 2 inches. The usual practice is to strike out shallow drills with a plough, 

 and then to drop the seed by hand at the intervals named. The covering 

 can then be done with an ordinary light harrow. Some growers have had a 

 special plate made to fit the maize planter, and sow their seed in that way. 

 The plate requires to be a very thick one, in order to save the grains from 

 being cracked. Under ordinary conditions, from I bushel to 1 bushel of 

 seed is required per acre. 



When the plants are a few inches high they should be worked through 

 with the hoe. On low-lying land the beans may show a pale green colour, 

 and a furrow should then be taken away with the plough, and left open for 

 a couple of days if the weather will permit. This allows the ground to 

 sweeten. The cultivator should be put through as often as possible, 

 until the plants are tall enough to be hilled with the plough, and the middle 

 should then be cleaned out. If the weather is dry, or a heavy downpour 

 of rain comes, the cultivator can again be used to advantage, breaking the 

 crust, and also checking any weeds that might spring up after rain. 



