

CULTIVATION OF PLANTS. J25 



the rows, and was followed by a light one-horse roller, which flattened the 

 ridges. 



The crop was twice cleaned of weeds, by the hoe, but not earthed. The pro- 

 duct was more than forty-eight bushels, by actual measurement. The beans 

 brought me one dollar the bushel last fall. The third experiment was like- 

 wise upon a piece of ground where the clover had been killed. It was plough- 

 ed about the first of June, the seed sown like peas, upon the first furrow, and 

 harrowed in. The drought kept them back; but about sixty-five rods of 



f round, on which the experiment was made, gave a product of twelve and a 

 alf bushels. The crop was too ripe when it was harvested, and as it was cut 

 with a scythe, I estimated that about two and a half bushels were left upon the 

 ground. No labour was bestowed upon them from the time they were sown 

 till they were harvested. 



Harvesting. The bean should be suffered to ripen itself 

 thoroughly but not to become over-ripe. The period of 

 ripening will be denoted by the skin of the seeds having ac- 

 quired a yellowish leather-like appearance. They may be cut 

 by the scythe or by the sickle. When the sickle is used the 

 utmost care is to be taken that the plants be cut low, both on 

 account of the value of the straw and of the saving of such pods 

 as may be growing near the bottom of the stem. 



The beans are to be formed into sheaves, by tying them with 

 straw-ropes previously prepared; or, when peas are mixed with 

 beans, by ropes formed of the stems of the peas twisted on the 

 spot at the time of reaping. The English practice is, merely 

 to lay the beans on these ropes in the first place, and leave 

 them in the field for a few days to dry, before they are bound 

 into sheaves. When the sheaves are bound, they are set up 

 into double-rowed shocks, without any covering of head- 

 shocks. The straw of the bean is nutritious and wholesome. 

 For horses, it is reckoned little inferior to hay. 



The bean is a plant subject to disease the most common, 

 a species of rust, by which it is affected in nearly the same 

 way as wheat is by the rust or mildew. It is also liable to the 

 attacks of insects. 



2. THE PEA. 



THE pea is supposed to be a native of the south of Europe 

 it has been cultivated in England from time immemorial 

 and in this country from its earliest settlement. It has been 

 found growing spontaneously in the western sections of our 

 country. The varieties of the pea are numerous; some of 

 which are more and others less valuable for cultivation. 



Of these the field pea alone comes within the range of our 

 present purpose. Of this, there are two varieties, denomi- 

 11* 



