228 THE BEAN CROP. 



Beans should not be kept longer in the stack than 

 necessary, as it is desirable to make use of the straw as 

 soon after harvest as possible. If used as fodder, it is 

 softer and more palatable ; and if too dry and fit only 

 for litter purposes, it has longer to ferment and decom- 

 pose in the cattle-yards. Beans are thrashed out either 

 by the flail or the thrashing machine. Where vetches 

 or peas are mixed with them, care must be taken to ar- 

 range the riddles or screens accordingly. 



The late period at which beans are ready for cutting, 

 and the length of time they require to remain out in the 

 field before they are fit to be stacked, interfere very much 

 in some seasons with the progress of work on the farm, 

 and inconveniently delay the finish of the operations of 

 harvest. Neither can the bean crop be calculated upon 

 so safely as our corn crops. It is generally more influenced 

 by climatal vicissitudes ; and although less subject to 

 disease, and, as far as we at present know, to the attacks 

 of fewer insects, the injuries it does sustain when it is 

 attacked are far more serious, frequently, indeed, resulting 

 in the entire destruction of the crop. To meet these two 

 objectionable points, and to get the maximum effect from 

 the crop, without the risks, inconvenience, and expense of 

 harvesting, it has been recommended to adopt the Belgian 

 mode of cutting them green, and using them in that state 

 as food; or better still, to feed them off on the land by sheep, 

 in the same way as vetches. To carry out this practice 

 properly, a particular description of hurdle should be used 

 (see diagram), in which the bars are placed vertically, 

 instead of horizontally, with a stay at the back, which 

 enables the hurdle to be readily moved back and fixed 

 in an inclined position, so that the sheep can consume 

 the quantity allotted to them without treading down and 

 injuring the rest. This form of hurdle is equally service- 

 able for feeding off vetches, mustard, or any other erect 



