574 
tube can be adjusted for drilling beans 
in rows 28 inches apart by stopping up 
all of the feed cups except the second, 
sixth and tenth. The machine is so reg- 
ulated as to plant the seed from three to 
six inches apart in the row. 
The depth at which the beans are 
planted depends upon the character of 
the soil and the weather conditions. They 
are not planted so deep in dark, heavy 
soil as in a lighter soil. Neither can 
beans be planted to a very great depth 
during cold, damp weather without injur- 
ing the stand. The safe plan is to plant 
just deep enough for the seed to lie in 
moist earth, for an even stand of strong, 
healthy plants is one of the first require- 
ments of a good bean crop. 
Quantity of Seed Per Acre 
The quantity of seed required per acre 
depends upon the size of the beans and 
also upon the manner of seeding. The 
pea bean varieties, such as the Little 
Navy, the Lady Washington, and the Red 
Miner, require from 16 to 20 pounds per 
acre when planted in checks 30 to 36 
inches square. If planted in drills or 
checked closer than this a larger quan- 
tity of seed will be necessary. The larger 
seeded varieties require more seed per 
acre than the smaller varieties. 
Beans as a Truck Crop in the South 
W. P. WILLIAMS 
The raising of bush or snap beans, as 
they are called, is becoming a prominent 
industry in some sections. The bean 
adapts itself readily to companion crop- 
ping; has a short period of growth (60 to 
70 days); is fairly easy to grow, and is 
thus gaining favor as a truck crop. 
Beans may be grown on any garden 
soil, but a rich sandy loam, with porous 
subsoil ig preferable for early crops. Land 
for this crop should be manured and 
plowed as soon in the spring as possible. 
It should be disked and harrowed until 
it is well pulverized, and if planting is 
delayed harrow every week until ready to 
plant. 
The bean, being a leguminous plant, 
does not need heavy application of nitro- 
gen. An application of the following 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
amount of fertilize: per acre will give 
very good results, and 1s a 9-215 goods. 
Acid phosphate (16 per cent) 300 Ibs. 
Cotton seed meal . 200 lbs. 
Muriate of potash 50 Ibs. 
Some growers use only cotton seed mea] 
at the rate of 700 pounds per acre, and 
a dressing of 100 pounds of nitrate of 
soda at blossoming time By the above 
method the succeeding crop gets the ben- 
efit of fertility not available for the pres- 
ent crop. 
Beans are sown in drills four feet apart 
and quick maturing crops, such as rad- 
ishes, are planted between the rows or 
later crops, like cotton, corn or potatoes, 
are planted when the beans have reached 
maturity. Many growers practice sowing 
@& successive crop of beans between the 
rows. 
Cultivation should begin as soon as the 
plants push through the ground, and this 
should be continued at frequent inter- 
vals throughout the growing period. The 
cultivation should be shallow, and the 
soil should be ridged slightly toward the 
plants. 
The seed is sown in drills and covered 
about two inches. Seed sown early is 
apt to rot, so it should be sown quite 
thickly. One quart of seed will plant 
from 80 to 100 feet of rows. Early sow- 
ings are apt to be caught by frost, as the 
young plants are very tender, but the 
prices of early shipments are so good that 
some risk may be run to receive these 
high prices. 
Varieties recommended for the South 
are Red Valentine, Stringless Green Pod, 
Refugee and Golden Wax. Pole varieties 
such as Kentucky Wonder and Old Home- 
stead are good, as they last over a longer 
season than the bush varieties 
Beans are ready to harvest from eight 
to ten weeks after planting. The beans 
are picked when of sufficient size, but 
they are not allowed to become tough and 
stringy. Never pick beans when the 
foliage is damp, aS many growers claim 
this causes rust and anthracnose to 
spread more rapidly. Anthracnose is con- 
trolled by growing seed which is desired 
for planting the following spring, in the 
