CULTURAL DIRECTIONS 
237 
to wait until the ground is thoroughly warm and when 
there is little danger of damaging weather conditions. 
The kidney group may be planted the earliest, followed 
by the marrows and then the pea varieties. In New 
York the kidneys may he planted the latter part of May, 
and the pea varieties from June 5 to 20. 
Spacing distances between rows range from 24 to 34 
inches, 28 being most popular. Some investigators be- 
lieve the largest yields are obtained when the beans are 
4 to 6 inches apart, while the usual distance is from 2 to 4. 
The depth of planting should be regulated by the 
character of the soil; in heavy soils i l /2 inches is ample, 
while 2 to 3 is not too deep in the lighter soils. For 
planting, one-half bushel of the smaller beans an acre is 
the most common allowance, while some farmers prefer 
three-fourths of a bushel ; from 4 to 6 pecks of the kidney 
varieties are used an acre. 
Field beans are usually planted with grain drills. 
Either 9 or n tube drills may be employed. The opera- 
tion is explained by the Michigan Station (Michigan 
Station Bulletin 259, p. 91) as follows: “One of the best 
machines for planting beans is the ordinary 1 1 -drill grain 
seeder with 7-inch spaces between the tubes. Stop up 
all the tubes except the 2d, 6th and 10th and let the drill 
wheel follow in its own outer wheel mark instead of in 
the last drill mark, as in sowing grain. This will plant 
three rows at a time, 28 inches apart, which is about the 
proper distance. In planting the larger varieties of kid- 
ney beans, a bean attachment or special bean drill should 
be used. Some makes of grain drills have attachments 
for planting beans.” Press wheels on the tubes are val- 
uable to secure a uniform depth of covering and an even 
stand. Field beans are sometimes grown in hills, but 
drills are favorable to larger yields. 
308. Planting dwarf, snap and green shell beans. — • 
Earliness is an important factor in the culture of snap 
