4 
The Colorado Experiment Station 
In irrigated districts, beans should be irrigated so as to keep the 
beans growing. A very dark green color is generally indicative of a 
need of water. Beans should not be irrigated later than full bloom on 
most soils, as later irrigation will delay maturity and not increase yield 
materially. Ordinarily one to two irrigations are sufficient. 
Harvesting should be done preferably with a bean harvester. This 
is especially true where any considerable acreages are planted. On very 
small acreages, they may be harvested by taking the mold board off the 
plow or by using a shovel. 
Beans shatter in thrashing very easily, consequently the bean hub 
ler should be used unless the acreages are very small. There are spec¬ 
ial attachments which may be used on the regular grain separator, 
provided the separator is run at very low speed. Patches of one to two 
acres can be thrashed with a flail as cheaply as by machine unless a 
machine is near. Machines for cleaning are available and should be 
used, as they increase market value. 
Pinto beans, the chief Colorado market sort, will average from 
300 to 800 pounds under dry lands and may yield as high as 1,800. 
The same beans will average from 1,200 to 2,000 pounds under irrb 
gation, and may yield as high as 3,000 pounds or even above. 
Market prices may be increased by putting beans up in uniform 
packages and having them thoroly cleaned. ' 
Bean straw should be carefully saved, as it is a valuable feed. 
This applies especially to dry lands. 
Beans make an excellent rotation crop. Wlieat on the dry land 
after beans will do as well as after clean summer fallow most seasons. 
. The yield of beans may be increased and their quality improved 
by wise field selection. 
Seed beans should be hand picked to get uniform quality and 
freedom from disease. Care should be taken not to plant beans which 
have been frost bitten. 
There are many diseases which affect beans. The best methods 
of controlling these diseases is the picking of clean seed and following 
a rotation. Beans should not be planted on the same land two years 
in succession. Two to three years should elapse before beans are agam 
planted on the same land. 
