Beans 1507 
actual conditions, the yields per acre of wheat and other farm 
crops have been on the increase, while in these same localities 
the yield of beans has grown less and more uncertain, excepting 
under unusual seasonal conditions. A number of years ago I 
planted thirty acres of beans one year. Some of this land was 
sod, but most of it had grown beans, corn or potatoes the pre- 
vious year. The season was ideal, and an average of thirty bushels 
to the acre was the result. I began to think that I “ knew beans.” 
The next year I planted about the same acreage. The season was 
just the reverse of the preceding one and about twelve bushels to 
the acre was the result, and these not first quality. 
PREPARATION OF LAND FOR BEANS 
This should not be left until the year we wish to plant the 
crop, for the first preparation is a good sod—a clover scd is 
preferable. 
As to time of plowing the land: if the soil be of the heavy 
order, late fall or early spring is the best time, although good 
crops are often grown when the plowing has been delayed until 
quite late in the spring —but this is an exception to the gen- 
eral rule. Lighter soils should be plowed in time to give the land 
thorough preparation. If a heavy application of manure has been 
given the sod direct, it 4s better to grow a crop of corn the first 
year and follow with beans, then wheat, and seed again, making 
a four-vear rotation. There is no better implement for levelling 
and firming the ground than the plank drag or old-fashioned clod 
brusher. This implement removes any humps in the furrows and 
deposits them in the spaces between, as well as filling up the 
deep holes made by the horses’ feet, and these holes and depres- 
sions mean a big item, taking the whole field into consideration. 
If they are left as the roller leaves them, they must be filled by the 
harrow with loose dust, and an even, firm undersurface is not 
possible. Beans need this in order to get an even start — a very 
important first step. A roller presses heavily on the highest 
spots and does nothing at all to the little hollows and holes. Up 
to this point, if the furrows have been leveled and firmed the 
same day they are turned over so as to better conserve the mois- 
ture, with the soil in good heart and the harrow used often up 
to the time of planting, we have so far done our part toward 
giving the crop a good start. 
