A LARGE BEAN FIELD. 193 



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 cultivation by the time the weeds need 

 another cutting. Just the time when the proper soil con- 

 ditions may be expected to arrive will differ in the differ- 

 ent localities, according to local rainfall and spring tem- 

 peratures, the beginning of the frost-free period, the na- 

 ture of the soil, etc. As a generalization, however, it may 



TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY-ACRE BEAN FIELD, 

 SALINAS VALLEY. 



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 most 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 plant- 

 ing is rushed during a warm spell to insure these condi- 



