160 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



in moist soil, and if the surface is light and prone to dry out quickly, 

 the greater depth is given, but the bean does not endure as deep 

 covering as some other large seed. In a moist surface an inch will 

 do, but in very light surface two inches is better. In some cases 

 even a little more is desirable. It must be remembered that a few 

 days' moisture must be assured to the seed to allow it to take hold 

 of the soil. 



In light soils liable to strong winds, the planter should run 

 at right angles to the course of the wind, for it has been observed 

 that the sand is more easily shifted when the wind has the length- 

 wise course of the drills. 



Distance is dependent upon the variety. Lima beans are usually 

 placed in rows about forty inches apart, with the planter rigged to 

 drop seed at an average of about ten inches apart, in the row. Small 

 beans of various kinds are given two to two and one half feet be- 

 tween the rows, and about four inches distance in the row. 



Cultivation. Frequent cultivation with knife-shaped teeth, is 

 practiced in the best bean soils, to kill weeds and loosen the surface, 

 until the running varieties cover the space so that they are injured 

 by cultivation. The vines then cover the ground and check evapora- 

 tion and the crop is left to its own course. With bush varieties 

 longer and deeper cultivation is desirable, at least if the ground is 

 apt to become compact, so that the earth-mulch described in the 

 chapter on cultivation is maintained. 



Gathering. Gathering the crop cannot usually wait until all 

 the beans have ripened, for fear of shelling out the earlier maturing 

 pods of some varieties, and for fear also of the fall rains already 

 mentioned. Cutting should begin when the grower's judgment tells 

 him he is about midway between the two dangers. The date will 

 of course vary in different localities. The Lima bean has a longer 

 growing season, and on the south coast is liable to encounter serious 

 hot spells in August or September after other beans are matured 

 and beyond injury. This heat shrivels the immature pods and lessens 

 the crop. 



Hand pulling or cutting of the vines, or plowing out, is no 

 longer practiced in large fields. A cutter operated by horse power 

 is now used. Two planks are hitched side to side, about two feet 

 apart. From each, on the outside, projects a steel blade, some two 

 feet, fastened to the bottom of the so-called sled. Two or three 

 horses are hitched to the sled, which passes comfortably between 



