27 
determined by weighing from 1 to 8 bundles of each length, each 
bundle containing 50 beans. 
Comparative weight of cured pods of different lengths from 1917 station crop. 
Length of pods. 
4 inches . 
4J inches 
Q inches 
4§ inches 
5 inches . 
5i inches 
5| inches 
5| inches 
6 inches . 
6J inches 
Average 
weight 
per pod. 
Number 
of pods 
per 
pound. 
Length of pods. 
Grams. 
1.01 
1.16 
1.39 
1.57 
1.81 
2.11 
2.28 
2.55 
2.83 
3.14 
448 
391 
325 
290 
251 
215 
199 
178 
160 
143 
Average 
weight 
per pod. 
Grams. 
6$ inches 3. 48 
6| inches 3. 91 
7 inches 4. 03 
1\ inches 4. 69 
7| inches 5. 16 
7| inches 5. 61 
8 inches i 6. 13 
8i inches ' 6. 81 
84 inches 7. 04 
Number 
of pods 
per 
pound. 
130 
116 
106 
97 
88 
81 
74 
67 
64 
When a plant has been forced to produce an excessively large 
number of pods the full measure of harm of overproduction is not 
shown by the inferiority of the ensuing crop alone but also by the 
debilitated condition in which the plant is left after cropping, with 
its consequent effect on following crops. 
It is then seen to rest with the pollinator within certain limits to 
determine whether the crop shall be of numerous or of few, of short 
or of long pods. In order to avoid the pollination of too many 
blossoms, the loss of the plants' vitality in the production of useless 
blossoms, and also the loss of the pollinator's time in the frequent 
examination of superfluous blossoms, it is advisable to go over the 
vines at short intervals during the blossoming season, clipping the 
stalk of the inflorescence just back of the remaining buds, or clipping 
the buds themselves on such clusters as have the desired number of 
pods already set, and removing any undesirable pods. A suitable 
implement for doing this is a pair of blunt shears such as orange 
pickers use. 
When fertilization has occurred the pod elongates at a rapid rate, 
its length increasing in some instances more than an inch a week. 
Full length is attained in 6 to 8 weeks. 
PICKING. 
The pods are not allowed to mature fully on the vines, as they do 
not mature simultaneously throughout their length, the apex turning 
yellow and splitting open while the base is still green. Split pods are 
looked upon with disfavor by buyers. The pod should be picked 
just before reaching the stage at which it would split if left on the vine, 
a condition usually indicated by a slight yellowing near the apex or 
by the pod first becoming oily and later yellow in appearance. To 
attain this degree of maturity requires anywhere from 7 to 9 months, 
or even a little longer. The time or order of maturing is not in strict 
