574 



ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 



tube can be adjusted for drilling beans 

 in rows 28 inches apart by stopping up 

 all of the feed cups except the second, 

 sixth and tenth. The machine is so reg- 

 ulated as to plant the seed from three to 

 six inches apart In the row. 



The depth at which the beans are 

 planted depends upon the character of 

 the soil and the weather conditions. They 

 are not planted so deep in dark, heav>' 

 soil as in a lighter soil. Neither can 

 beans be planted to a very great depth 

 during cold, damp weather without injur- 

 ing the stand. The safe plan is to plant 

 just deep enough for the seed to lie in 

 moist earth, for an even stand of strong, 

 healthy plants is one of the first require- 

 ments of a good bean crop. 



Qiiaiititj of Seed Per Acre 



The quantity of seed required per acre 

 depends upon the size of the beans and 

 also upon the manner of seeding. The 

 pea bean varieties, such as the Little 

 Navy, the Lady Washington, and the Red 

 Miner, require from 16 to 20 pounds per 

 acre when planted in checks 30 to 36 

 inches square. If planted in drills or 

 checked closer than this a larger quan- 

 tity of seed will be necessary. The larger 

 seeded varieties require more seed per 

 acre than the smaller varieties. 



Beans as a Truck Crop in tbe South 



W. P. WlLLI.\5IS 



The raising of bush or snap beans, as 

 they are called, is becoming a prominent 

 industry in some sections. The bean 

 adapts itself readily to companion crop- 

 ping; has a short period of growth (60 to 

 70 days) ; is fairly easy to grow, and is 

 thus gaining favor as a truck crop. 



Beans may be grown on any garden 

 soil, but a rich sandy loam, with porous 

 subsoil is preferable for early crops. Land 

 for this crop should be manured and 

 plowed as soon in the spring as possible. 

 It should be disked and harrowed until 

 it is well pulverized, and if planting is 

 delayed harrow every week until ready to 

 plant. 



The bean, being a leguminous plant, 

 does not need heavy application of nitro- 

 gen. An application of the following 



amount of fertilizer per acre will give 

 very good results, and is a 9-2 U-S goods: 



Acid phosphate (16 per cent) ..300 lbs. 



Cotton seed meal 200 lbs. 



Muriate of potash 50 lbs. 



Some growers use only cotton seed meal 

 at the rate of 700 pounds per acre, and 

 a dressing of 100 pounds of nitrate of 

 soda at blossoming time. By the above 

 method the succeeding crop gets the ben- 

 efit of fertility not available for the pres- 

 ent crop. 



Beans are sown in drills four feet apart 

 and quick maturing crops, such as rad- 

 ishes, are planted between the rows or 

 later crops, like cotton, corn or potatoes, 

 are planted when the beans have reached 

 maturity. Many growers practice sowing 

 a successive crop of beans between the 

 rows. 



Cultivation should begin as soon as the 

 plants push through the ground, and this 

 should be continued at frequent inter- 

 vals throughout the growing period. The 

 cultivation should be shallow, and the 

 soil should be ridged slightly toward the 

 plants. 



The seed is sown in drills and covered 

 about two inches. Seed sown early is 

 apt to rot, so it should be sown quite 

 thickly. One quart of seed will plant 

 from 80 to 100 feet of rows. Early sow- 

 ings are apt to be caught by frost, as the 

 young plants are very tender, but the 

 prices of early shipments are so good that 

 some risk may be run to receive these 

 high prices. 



Varieties recommended for the South 

 are Red Valentine, Stringless Green Pod, 

 Refugee and Golden Wax. Pole varieties 

 such as Kentucky Wonder and Old Home- 

 stead are good, as they last over a longer 

 season than the bush varieties. 



Beans are ready to harvest from eight 

 to ten weeks after planting. The beans 

 are picked when of sufficient size, but 

 they are not allowed to become tough and 

 stringy. Never pick beans when the 

 foliage is damp, as many growers claim 

 this causes rust and anthracnose to 

 spread more rapidly. Anthracnose is con- 

 trolled by growing seed which is desired 

 for planting the following spring, in the 



