1858 . 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
171 
if left uncut, or until they had become dry 1 Says R. 
L. Allen: 
“ The stalks of corn ought never to be cut above the 
ears. The sap which nourishes the grain is drawn from 
the soil, and passing through the stem, enters the leaf, 
where a material change in the sap takes place. This pre¬ 
pares the sap for condensation and conversion into the 
grain. But the leaves which digest the food for the grain 
arc above it, and it is while passing downward that the 
change takes place. If the stalk be cut above the ear, 
nourishment is at an end—the corn may become firm and 
dry, but it will not increase in quantity; while if cut near 
the root, it not only appropriates the sap already in the 
plant, but it also absorbs additional matter from the atmos¬ 
phere, which contributes to its weight and perfection.” 
-■ • •- 
Culture of Beans. 
The culture of white beans as a field crop is of in¬ 
creasing extent and importance, and though not as re¬ 
munerative as formerly, is still a paying branch of 
farming. Prices have declined largely within the last 
two years, yet a fair demand will always exist, depend¬ 
ing to some extent on the comparative price of pota¬ 
toes, (for which beans are sometimes substituted in 
family consumption,) the success and amount of the 
crop, and several minor influences. But, leaving gen¬ 
erals, let us proceed to some particulars on their cul¬ 
ture. 
Beans may be planted with success later in the sea¬ 
son than almost any other spring crop. They fill up, 
therefore, very conveniently the few days between the 
spring seeding and the hoeing and haying which follow, 
though their after culture comes in a more hurrying 
season to the farmer. A friend, experienced in bean¬ 
growing, remarked to the writer, that he “ planted 
corn until it was too late to plant more, and then put 
in his bean crop, which filled up the time until his corn 
wanted hoeing.” The middle of June is full late for 
planting most varieties, for it is essentia] that the crop 
ripens before the frost comes. Frosted beans, even if 
in great part uninjured, give much trouble in harvest¬ 
ing and curing, and are not as readily marketable as 
a purer article. 
The soil most suitable for beans, is a warm light 
loam, not too rich, and yet of medium fertility. On 
rich soils the growth runs mostly to vines; on wet soils 
they incline to rust, and the product is of an inferior 
character. Probably the most favorable conditions for 
bean-growing, is a sandy loam well swarded, which is 
turned over immediately before planting, harrowed 
down, and the beans then drilled in. Such soils are 
not apt to be weedy—and many weeds in the cultiva¬ 
tion of beans are equivalent to much work, or a choked 
growth of the crop. Beans demand clean culture, and 
will repay the same, but the time when they need hoe¬ 
ing most, is generally in the hurry of haying and har¬ 
vest, so that any care to lighten this part of the work 
is not lost to the farmer. 
Of preparation and planting we have already inci¬ 
dentally remarked. Let the plowing be done but a 
short time before planting, and, if a hand planter or 
hoes are to be used for the work, mark out two or two 
and one-half feet apart, planting across about half the 
distance. About five beans per hill will be the proper 
number. In drills, single beans, two inches apart, are 
sufficient, and horse planters can be regulated to de¬ 
posit them with sufficient accuracy. The covering 
should be from one and a half to two inches of mellow 
soil—sods and stones will not answer 
Cultivation or hoeing should never be given in wet 
weather, or when the leaves are wet with dew, so that 
dirt will stick to them. Their greatest insect enemy is 
the grub or cut-worm, against which there is no effec¬ 
tual preventive. 
The profit of bean culture is influenced in a great 
degree by perfect or imperfect ripening, and a success¬ 
ful harvesting and curing of the crop. If wet weather 
occurs when the beans are fit to pull, or while they are 
drying in the field, more or less are wasted, and an¬ 
other portion discolored so as to injure their sale. If 
all do not ripen at once, there is loss from the same 
cause, or from injury by frost, of which we have pre¬ 
viously spoken. 
In regard to pulling and curing, different methods 
prevail. Last season—a wet one in our vicinity—we 
secured a crop of three acres in excellent order, by 
pulling and stacking around fence stakes. Make a 
hole with a crowbar, and set the stakes firmly in the 
ground. Place a little straw underneath to keep them 
from the ground; then lay each armful of beans, as 
pulled, with the roots against the stake. Make the 
stacks six or eight feet high; they may stand for 
weeks in the field until thoroughly dry. After a few 
dry days, draw in and thresh at once, securing the 
straw, as it is of high value for foddering sheep. In 
dry seasons a less laborious method may be followed. 
Throw five rows into one, as pulled, let them dry, and 
then draw in. Crops are often secured in good order 
in this way. 
As to varieties, the “ medium white bean” stands 
in good repute—ripens early and evenly, and cures 
well. A new kind, somewhat resembling it, called the 
Mountain Cranberry, is very early, yields well, and is 
in good demand, both for seed and culinary purposes. 
It is said to command twenty-five cents more per bush¬ 
el for the latter use in the New-York market. 
Improvement of Grass Lands. 
“ A good subject for discussion in the columns of the 
Gentleman,” says a friend coming in as we finish the 
line above written. 
“ Why so,” we ask, willing to get his ideas of the 
matter before giving our own. 
“Because it is one neglected both by farmers and 
their prompters of the agricultural press. Grass grows 
almost every where without our care. So our meadows 
and pastures get but a small share of the attention 
given to other crops.” 
“ Undoubtedly, though labor bestowed in their im¬ 
provement is as profitable as any expended upon the 
farm. A large part of the farming land of the country 
is employed in the production of forage and many an 
acre needlessly so.” 
“Yes, because many an acre of meadow gives a ton 
or so of hay, which might give three or four, and many 
an acre of pasture furnishes scanty picking for a cow, 
which might be crowned with luxuriant herbage! 
What a waste of land, too, for what profit can be de¬ 
rived from devoting that valued at from $50 to $100 
per acre, to hay or grazing, unless some adequate re¬ 
turn is received.” 
“ You would have the grass crop, concentrated , 
would you—a ton of hay grown on a few rods, instead 
of scattered over the whole acre?” 
“ Yes; so now give us your hints of the ‘How to do 
it,’ as practically as may be.” 
