CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
233 
extensively because of their earliness. Tepary, Pinto, 
Red Mexican, and others are popular varieties in the 
West and Southwest. 
302. Climatic requirements. — Probably the bean is 
more widely distributed than any other cultivated vege- 
table. It is grown in nearly aii parts of the world. In 
tropical countries certain species grow luxuriantly and 
produce abundantly, while the coldest agricultural sec- 
tions grow certain hardy species or varieties with success. 
Notwithstanding these facts, beans exhibit great dif- 
ferences in their power to withstand heat and cold. The 
seeds of some decay more quickly than others when the 
soil is cool and moist. Some are more tender to frost 
than others. All vary greatly in the length of time 
required to reach maturity. Hot, dry weather often 
blasts the flowers, and an excessive amount of moisture 
in soil or air when the crop nears maturity is objection- 
able. In deciding what to plant, each type should be 
considered in reference to the existing climatic or tem- 
perature conditions. No class of beans will stand more 
than a slight frost, but bush beans are more hardy than 
pole varieties and may be planted slightly earlier. All 
varieties of limas are very tender and require a long sea- 
son, while many dwarf varieties of snap beans are ready 
for use in six to eight weeks from planting. Varieties of 
the same class also vary considerably in hardiness. 
303. Soils. — The first requisite of soil is thorough 
drainage ; the second is a moderate amount of organic 
matter. Some varieties of beans will grow and mature 
light crops in poor soils, but high fertility is essential to 
large yields. 
Beans are grown successfully in all types of soils. This 
is especially true of the dwarf garden varieties. Some of 
the best early crops are grown on distinctly sandy soils, 
while satisfactory yields are common on sandy loams. 
The light sandy soils are especially important for lima 
