202 THE BEAN CROP. 



grown in the fields of the southern half of the country ; 

 in the northern portions the climate limits the field 

 cultivation to those varieties which are comprised in the 

 first division, the others being only suitable for the 

 sheltered culture of the gardens. The following are the 

 varieties generally met with in cultivation : 



Common Scotch or Horse Bean is the ordinary field- 

 bean of the northern districts, while the Tick Bean is that 

 which is principally grown in the south. This variety 

 is very hardy, and, in good seasons, very prolific. The 

 stem is stout, from 3 to 5 feet in length, carrying its 

 pods down to its middle the pods containing usually 

 three, but sometimes four and even five seeds. The seed 

 is from one-half to five-eighths of an inch long, by three- 

 eighths in breadth (fig. 1), generally slightly and rather 

 irregularly compressed and wrinkled on the sides, and fre- 

 quently a little hollowed or flattened at the end ; of a whit- 

 ish or lightish-brown colour, occasionally interspersed with 

 darker blotches, particularly towards the extremities; 

 colour of the eye, black. If exposed too long in the field, 

 or heated in the stack, they become much darker in 

 appearance. Their weight ranges from 60 to 65 Ibs. per 

 bushel : the average yield may be taken at four quarters 

 to the acre. This variety is suitable for good, strong, 

 well-drained clay or alluvial soils: on soils containing 

 much vegetable matter it runs too much to straw, and 

 on light soils it loses its vigour of growth, and diminishes 

 in size and produce. It is well adapted for feeding pur- 

 poses, and not unpalatable when made into breadstuffs. 

 In grinding, 100 parts yield 85 to 86 parts meal, and 14 

 to 15 parts of husk. (Haxton.} 



Tick. There are several varieties known by this name 

 the Common Tick, Harrow Ticks, Flat Ticks, Essex 

 Ticks, French Ticks, &c., differing only from the common 

 by being grown in different soils and under different 



