PERIOD OF SOWING. 



213 



them more generally into the rotation of districts where 

 at present they are but little known. The period of sow- 

 ing depends, of course, upon the variety selected. The 

 early part of October is probably the best time for sowing 

 the Winter bean, as by that time the stubbles of the pre- 

 ceding crop have been ploughed and well cleaned. This 

 latter operation should be always carefully attended to 

 in regard to the bean land, whether intended for winter 

 or spring sowing, as the land can never be so efficiently 

 cleared of weeds, if they are left untouched until the 

 spring. 



For spring sowing, February is the best time; they are, 

 however, frequently sown during the month of March, and 

 in favourable seasons have produced good crops. It is 

 always advisable to take advantage of the first oppor- 

 tunity the weather affords after the middle of February, 

 and get them in as early as possible, as the bean plant 

 requires from six to seven months to complete its growth ; 

 and if the period of sowing is delayed, the harvest opera- 

 tions are necessarily kept back at a period of the year 

 when each day's delay renders the season less adapted for 

 the purpose, and the stooks are frequently injured by 

 being so long exposed to the weather before they can 

 safely be carted off the field. Some compartive experi- 

 ments were carried out by Arthur Young, in respect to 

 the relative produce of beans, sown at various times, and 

 under the same conditions as to soil, climate, &c., which 

 gave the following results: 



Sown in November, the produce = 4' 



December, = 3 '42 



January, 



February, 



March, 



April, 



May, 



= 4-42 

 = 4-49 

 = 4- 

 = 2-1 

 = 1-42 



If the land is well drained, and the principal rainfall has 



15 



