CHAPTER II 

 CONDITIONS AFFECTING GROWTH 



Heat, moisture, air. — Beans, like other plants, re- 

 quire certain quantities of heat, moisture and air 

 before any growth whatever occurs. Few plants 

 with which the farmer has to deal make greater de- 

 mands on all three of these agencies than beans. 

 While other crops may demand nearly equal 

 amounts of moisture, they are not as fussy about the 

 demands. Beans soon lose heart in a drouth. This 

 fact alone has been one great difficulty in the way of 

 the success of bean growers. Many farmers are 

 unable to carry the beans through a protracted 

 drouth, particularly if this occurs at the time of 

 fruition. The same general remarks hold true, 

 though in perhaps a less degree, with heat and air 

 conditions, as related to the growth of the bean 

 plant. It is encouraging to note that farmers are 

 rapidly learning to control these conditions in a de- 

 gree, by adopting such cultural methods as will have 

 a tendency to offset the unfavorable influences. 

 Here it is that good judgment on the part of the 

 grower comes into good play in determining the best 

 methods to pursue, under the existing conditions 

 presented with the season. 



Conserving soil moisture is one way by which the 

 farmer may thwart the attempt of an untimely 

 drouth to destroy his bean crop. Among the things 

 recommended to conserve moisture are : ( i ) Fall 

 plowing; (2) early spring cultivation; (3) soil 

 mulches; and (4) frequent cultivation so long as 



6 



