220 THE BEAN- CROP. 



ten days to a fortnight after sowing. A dry day should 

 be selected for the purpose ; and it had better not be at- 

 tempted at all, unless the surface is sufficiently free from 

 wet. When the beans are sown on the ridge, a curved- 

 shaped set of harrows is required for the work. 



When the young plant is fairty above the surface, it 

 grows pretty fast; the stem rapidly increases in height 

 and in substance, and leaves of a pale green, or rather 

 glaucous tint, make their appearance in quick succes- 

 sion. The flowering commences at the axils of the lower 

 leaves, and follows with the growth of the plant up to 

 the top, the stem continuing its growth until the process 

 of reproduction (maturing its seeds) is completed. 



In order that full advantage should be taken of beans, 

 as a fallow crop between two straw crops, the first op- 

 portunity should be taken after the plant is well up, 

 to commence the operation of hoeing; and this should 

 be repeated as often as the crop requires, or as circum- 

 stances will permit, until the plants get too high to allow 

 the hoe to pass between the rows without injury. Where 

 the drills are more than 18 inches wide, the first and 

 second hoeings may readily be done with the horse-hoe : 

 any subsequent cleaning is usually better done by the 

 hand, as the plants by that time are too far advanced to 

 admit the passage of the horse between them. When 

 they are sown in lines at distances less than 18 inches 

 apart, they require to be hand-hoed from the beginning ; 

 and this must be repeated two or three or more times, as 

 the state of the field requires. The price paid for hand- 

 hoeing is from 3s. to 6s. per acre. About 5s., however, 

 may be taken as an average price. 



A great difference of opinion appears to exist as to the 

 best distances at which beans should be planted between 

 the rows or drills. Some advocate a great width, so as to 

 give the plant the fullest exposure to the action of the air 



