1512. Tur VeceraBLte Inpustry In New York STATE 
be nicely seen until they are well in blossom, and sometimes when 
the pods are forming. Why? First, because by the use of shields, 
the first time over one can run quite close to the row and not in- 
jure the roots of the plants, and, for the same reason, he can go 
deeper. Again, it stirs up and covers up the little weeds which 
at that stage in their growth are easily destroyed. Cultivation 
prevents a crust forming, lets the air into the soil, and at- 
tracts and conserves moisture. At the second cultivation, the 
teeth or steels next to the row should be set more shallow, and 
after that the cultivation should all be shallow. Often a crop of 
beans is badly injured by deep cultivation thoughtlessly done, 
for the fine feeding roots extend across the whole intervening 
strip, occupying the entire soil. Cultivation should never take 
place when the vines are wet, because in that condition the dis- 
ease spores are scattered if they are present, causing great 
damage. 
MARVESTING 
It is a good plan to let the crop get quite well and evenly 
ripened before cutting. Ordinarily there is not much danger 
by shelling. The cutter turns two rows together. <A side deliv- 
ery rake is often used to roll four of these rows together, two 
going across the field and two coming back. In this way we have 
eight single rows in one. After lying in the windrow a few 
hours they can be cocked up as hay, keeping the bottoms of the 
cocks well tucked under so as not to have so much base. Thus 
they will be safer from weather damage, will cure faster and 
better, and can be pitched on the wagon and hauled out of the 
field in half the time. The bunches are usually turned over a 
few hours before hauling to give the bottoms a sunbath. In any 
event the crop must be dry and hard before being put into the 
barn or stack, or damp beans will result, and it is a very difficult 
task to dry them after threshing. There should be one ironclad 
rule in harvesting — never leave a load of beans in the field one 
minute after they are ready for housing, for no crop is more dam- 
aged by bad weather than is the bean crop, and with no other 
product is greater loss entailed. It is a discouraging job to turn 
and re-turn beans in the field, being all the time conscious that this 
loss and worry could have been avoided by a little care in man- 
agement. 
