SOIL FOR BEANS 157 



At an estimate of 20 sacks to the acre the acreage in beans in 

 1911 was 141,250. The crop of 1912 was smaller owing to less 

 favorable conditions. 



Soil for Beans. A rich sandy soil, if it can be kept moist 

 enough, is best suited to the growth of beans, and dry, hot, sandy 

 soil is the worst, but even on sand near the beach, fair crops are 

 sometimes made by the help of aerial moisture and coolness. The 

 plant does not require very great amount of moisture, if heat 

 and atmospheric aridity are not too great, but it insists upon a cer- 

 tain amount. Crops have been lost by choosing land that was too 

 wet. But though a light soil seems to best suit the plant, it can be 

 successfully grown on any good garden soil, providing good culti- 

 vation is given and the land kept from baking and drying out. With 

 adequate care in this regard, very good garden crops are grown even 

 on adobe soil, but the commercial bean crops are grown on light soils 

 because there are obvious cultural advantages in dealing with such 

 soils. ' 



Preparation of Land for Beans. As our chief crops of beans 

 are grown without irrigation on light soils, in regions of moderate 

 rainfall, the preparation of the soil should begin at the opening of 

 the rainy season, so as to prepare the land for receiving and retain- 

 ing the maximum amount of the rain that falls. Growth of weeds 

 after harvesting the beans should be prevented by cultivation, 

 because weeds draw upon moisture and would produce seed for 

 more weeds. This cultivation also opens the surface to absorb the 

 early rains. When the soil is well moistened by rain, usually not 

 later than January, a good plowing is given, and after that the 

 chisel-toothed cultivator and the harrow or other tool fitted to break 

 up all compacting of the soil at or below the surface, are used at 

 short intervals through the winter to prevent evaporation, and retain 

 moisture near the surface. There is some variation in winter prac- 

 tice, as some plow deeply, some turn a shallow furrow, and some 

 rely wholly upon the chisel cultivator, which works as deep as shal- 

 low plowing. In all cases the end in view is the same, to bring the 

 land to planting time with moisture retained and mellow to receive 

 the seed. 



Artificial inoculation of soil for beans is not found necessary 

 in California, probably because bacteria are abundant from the 

 previous growth of native legumes. 



