130 GARDEN FARMING 



rows the proper distance. This adaptation of the drill obviates the 

 necessity of purchasing a special implement for planting beans. 

 By the use of range poles and a 9-tooth drill spaced 8 inches, 

 3 rows of beans 32 inches apart, can be planted each time the 

 field is crossed. An 1 1 -tooth drill can be arranged to plant 

 3 rows of beans 32 inches apart, if the teeth of the drill are spaced 

 8 inches, by driving the wheel in the preceding wheel mark on 

 each return trip. 



Those contemplating the purchase of implements for different 

 uses should carefully study the adaptability of the implements to 

 the work desired. It will readily be seen that an n -tooth drill, 

 arranged to plant 3 rows 32 inches apart, will be a much more 

 convenient implement than a Q-tooth drill similarly spaced, as the 

 larger implement does away with the necessity of using range poles. 



Quantity of seed necessary for field beans. The quantity of seed 

 required to plant an acre of beans varies with the size of the beans ; 

 that is, J- bushel of small pea beans is sufficient to plant I acre of 

 ground, while I bushel of red kidney beans is not sufficient if the 

 seed is distributed in the ordinary fashion in drills. In planting 

 beans of the pea and marrow types the quantity of seed varies 

 from ^ to i bushel per acre, according to the quality of the beans 

 and the preferences of the planter. For kidney beans the quantity 

 varies from I bushel to as much as 6 pecks per acre. Ordina- 

 rily, with rows 30 inches apart, I bushel is sufficient for seeding 

 an acre. 



Depth of planting field beans. The depth at which beans should 

 be planted is determined by the character of the soil and the sea- 

 son of the year. In heavy, retentive soils planting should be compar- 

 atively shallow, as the peculiar habit of growth of the bean is such 

 that it cannot readily reach the surface if planted deep in such 

 soils. In light soils early planting can be made as deep as 3 inches, 

 but ii- or 2 inches is the maximum depth for retentive soils. 

 The cowpea and soja beans are more exacting in regard to the 

 depth of planting than the field bean, the stalk of the young cow- 

 pea being more slender and less able to force the seed leaves 

 through any crust of earth that may have formed after plant- 

 ing. All things considered, a satisfactory depth for planting is 

 about ii- inches. 



