1512 The Vegetable Industry in Xew 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. 



HARVESTING 



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. 



