HARVESTING THE CROP 87 



or piles of beans as left by the men who shake the 

 vines free from earth, or as left by the side delivery 

 rake. Some growers advise getting on to the load 

 and tramping the vines down, so more can be gotten 

 on the wagon at a single load. However, the prac- 

 tice recommended is for all the loading to be done 

 from the ground as in this way fewer beans are 

 shelled. Farmers who use hay slings on the wagon 

 as in drawing hay, and mow the beans away in the 

 barn by means of horse power cannot easily avoid 

 getting on the loads to arrange the slings. It is 

 never advisable to put beans into the barn when 

 wet, or not thoroughly cured. Some farmers have 

 learned to their sorrow that the harvesting process 

 cannot be rushed in this way, and that premature 

 drawing means a practical loss of the crop as the 

 beans will heat and color on the slightest pro- 

 vocation. 



When the hay loader is used in the bean field, it 

 is also impossible to avoid the presence of a man on 

 the load, but a careful worker can do what little 

 moving around is necessary and shell comparatively 

 few of the beans. The necessity of a man on the 

 load is one of the principal points against the hay 

 loader. When hauling the small stacks as put up by 

 the grower who has but very few beans, the wagon 

 is driven along side the stack and the entire shock 

 lifted on the wagon. Unless the hay slings are 

 used a man almost always gets on the load to pitch 

 off the beans. This is a point in favor of the slings. 

 They are easily arranged and about three drafts are 

 made to the load and sometimes only two. As the 

 first pair is placed on the bare wagon rack it is 

 necessary that the man climb on the wagon only 



