POINTS OF FIELD CULTURE 159 



Time of Planting. Hints of this consideration have already 

 been given to illustrate other points. As a general conclusion it 

 may be added that California experience clearly points to unde- 

 sirability of early planting simply to keep abreast of the calendar. 

 Most of our commercial beans are of the phaseolus varieties (kid- 

 neys, Limas, etc.), and they are tender and cannot be planted until 

 frosts are over in each locality. The broad beans, especially the 

 Portuguese bean, are more hardy and in some districts grow all 

 winter, except in low, frosty places. The bush beans are hardier 

 than the climbers and can be safely planted earlier, but there is 

 nothing to be gained in planting either in advance of a good condi- 

 tion of warmth and moisture in the soil. Rather than trust the seed 

 to soil which is too cold or too wet it is better to wait a little, kill 

 the weeds by a shallow working, place the seed deep enough to 

 insure its contact with moisture and then trust to the more rapid 

 growth of the plant to make up for the delay. This it will usually 

 do, and will shoot ahead so that it will be of good size for cultiva- 

 tion by the time the weeds need another cutting. Just the. time 

 when the proper soil conditions may be expected to arrive will differ 

 in the different localities, according to. local rainfall and spring 

 temperatures, the beginning of the frost-free period, the nature of 

 the soil, etc. As a generalization, however, it may be put at May 1. 

 to May 15 on the coast, with a range of May 1 to June 1 for interior 

 lowlands in the central and northern parts of the state chiefly to 

 allow moist lands to come into planting condition. 



As to condition of soil and weather at planting Lima beans, it 

 may be said that ample heat in connection with soil moisture is 

 necessary to start this variety, and planting is rushed during a warm 

 spell to insure these conditions. A rain after planting is counted a 

 detriment, for if the temperature of the soil falls too low the seed 

 is apt to rot. Besides-a shower means more weeds, and some large 

 growers count it cheaper to plow up the 'field and replant than to 

 clean out the weeds in the rows. Small growers, however, usually 

 undertake the hoeing rather than sacrifice the plant if the stand is 

 a good one. 



Manner of Planting. All commercial crops of beans, whether 

 of bush or running varieties, are grown in rows. The planting is 

 done with machines of different makes and sizes, though usually 

 planting from two to four rows at a time. Depth is determined by 

 the character of the soil and the season. The bean must be placed 



