104 TRACTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS, &c. 



should suppose the produce might then be betwixt 20 and 25 tons 

 per acre. 



Black speckled Kidney Beans. 



St. Helena formerly abounded with " bean grounds," of which 

 traces are still to be seen : but of Ia(e years they have occupied 

 only a place in the gardens. Their culture appears to me worthy 

 of attention. Their growth is rapid — they are not liable to be 

 infested with vermin of any kind — they thrive in almost all soils. 

 In their young state they yield a very ihick foliage, but not 

 exceeding 18 or 20 inches in height from tiie ground — and they 

 have abundance of long pods, tit for table use, or for cattle, hogs, 

 &c. When ripe the bean produce is very great — exceeding ninety 

 bushels per acre. 



On the 31st of October last, observing that some black speckled 

 beans, in the Plantation-house garden, (which the gardener had 

 left for .seed) had an extraordinary number of pods, I was in- 

 duced to ascertain what might be the actual produce of an acre 

 from such a crop, if sown in rows at one foot asunder. Accord- 

 ingly on that day, 33 feet of rows were measured, and the beans 

 carefully gathered, and taken out of the pods. I kept them in a 

 dry place until the 20th December ; when they were weighed ; 

 the 33 feet of rows yielded sixty six and one half ounces. 



Novv^ as an acre planted in the above manner, would contain 

 43560 feet of rows, the extent of 38 feet is the 1320th part— con- 

 sequently this sum multiplied by 66^ ounces gives the produce 

 87780 ounces, or 5486 pounds, per acre. 



Having found a jug, that held 30| ounces of wheat, to contain 

 exactly 30 ounces of beans, the weight of a bushel of those beans 

 may be rated at 59 pounds ; by which dividing the 5486 pounds, 

 the produce thus deduced is 93 bushels per acre. 



