FIELD CULTURE OF BEANS. 189 



that five counties on our southern coast win for California 

 the distinction of being the greatest Lima bean producing 

 country of the world. The California bean product in 

 1909 was about two and one-half million sacks, of which 

 about one-half were Limas. 



The capacity of California for production of beans is 

 apparently limited only by the extent to which the pro- 

 duce can be profitably sold. Whenever there is a falling 

 off in local production of the common varieties east of the 

 Rocky Mountains, California shipments are freely made, 

 and when, many years ago, there was a train-load sold for 

 Boston, California embraced not only the profit thereof, 

 but the proud satisfaction that she was really doing some- 

 thing worth while for the maintenance of the intellectual 

 standard of the country. 



FIELD CULTURE OF BEANS IN CALIFORNIA. 



Though California has great bean producing capacity, 

 the area well suited to the product is comparatively lim- 

 ited and only a fraction of that has conditions which favor 

 the Lima bean as a field crop. Making deductions from 

 years of local experience it may be stated that the summer 

 heat and drought of the interior plains are offensive to 

 most kinds of beans; that occasional frosts preclude the 

 winter growth of the crop over wide areas where ordinary 

 winter temperature and moisture would favor it ; that 

 summer heat and drought modified by exposure to ocean 

 influences, or by influences existing on interior river -bot- 

 tom lands, are acceptable to the plant and in such situa- 

 tions is the chief production. From a commercial point of 

 view it is also quite important that towards the end of the 

 season there should be a reduction of the amount of mois- 

 ture in the soil, so that the plant may cease its growth and 

 mature its seed before the fall rains make the harvesting 

 difficult and stain the beans. Favoring conditions are thus 

 seen to be quite exacting. During the growing period of 

 the plant there must be : first, no frost ; second, the least 

 possible duration of hot, dry winds, and a moderated at- 



