WAYS TCf PLANT BEANS 137 



ing until the hot spells of June and July are passed. Such late 

 planting is only safe on moist or irrigated lands in places where 

 early fall frosts are not to be expected. Late planting is believed 

 to reduce the danger from red spider. 



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

 the coast regions where they are grown, it may be said that ample 

 heat in connection with soil moisture is necessary to start this va- 

 riety, 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. Be- 

 sides 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 

 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 lengthwise 

 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. 



Once Over the Ground at Planting. On land disposed to pack 

 under heavy tools bean crops have been put in on land plowed the 

 previous fall in this way. At the planting time in the spring use a 

 bean chisel, pulled by a tractor, with a harrow hitched on behind, 

 then a bean planter of multiple style and behind that a drag. This 

 does the plowing, the cultivating and planting, and drags the land 

 to keep the moisture in, all in one operation, and so does not be- 

 gin to pack the soil as much as if two or three separate operations 

 were made. 



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 would be 

 injured by cultivation. The vines then cover the ground and check 



