234 



VEGETABLE GARDENING 



beans. Gravelly loams frequently produce excellent 

 crops, but require a large amount of humus. Clay loams 

 are unquestionably the best for the field class of dry 

 beans, and there seems to be a consensus of opinion that 

 all varieties representing; this group have a preference 

 for limestone soils. A-N^hen early maturity is an impor- 

 tant factor, sandy soils or sand}^ loams with southern 

 aspects are most valuable. Wuck soils are not satisfac- 

 tory, because they produce an excessive growth of plant 

 and a meager crop of beans. 



FIG. 59. BEANS INTERCROPPED WITH STRAWBERRIES 

 AT NORFOLK, VIRGINIA 



304. Rotation and soil preparation. — In New York and 

 Alichigan the field varieties are usually grown in a three- 

 year rotation — clover, beans and wheat. A heavy inverted 

 clover sod provides the best conditions for a large yield. 

 The Michigan Station recommends a four-year rotation, 

 in which case alsike clover and timothy seed should be 

 mixed with red clover, so the land can be pastured for 

 one season. Corn is often used in a four-year rotation, 

 when the order of cropping is clover, corn, beans and 



