GRAINS, GRASSES AND VEGETABLES. 
3 
experimental grounds, to keep up the fertility of the soil, so 
far as it is possible to do so by such operation. No fertilizers, 
either home made or commercial, have been used in connec¬ 
tion with a single experiment, hence the results will show the 
real value of our mineral soil when treated to a regular and 
systematic course of rotation. In such a course, no plant was 
allowed to succeed itself, nor were the small grains grown 
except after hoed crops. 
VEGETABLES. 
BEANS. 
Seventy varieties of table and and stock beans have been 
tested for three years in succession, the same seed being 
used each year. Most of these retained their vitality and 
their reproductive qualities to a remarkable degree, the aver¬ 
age per cent, being 74. 
The Green Flageolet and the New White Valentine rip¬ 
ened earliest, the Limas and the Black Pole Wax, latest. 
The Green Nonpariel, Long Pod Negro and Galega showed 
the greatest vitality, being 100, 99 and 98 per cent., the 
Limas, White Soja and Golden Wax the least vitality. The 
Galega and Dutch Case Knife were the most prolific, making 
5 pounds 14 ounces from 99 seeds of the former, and from 77 
of the latter, 5 pounds and 4 ounces. In the treatment and 
cultivation of these beans, the running varieties were not 
“stuck,” nor had the soil on which they were raised ever been 
manured. Had the soil been moist when planted, they would 
have germinated readily, thereby making a greater per cent, 
in both vitality and productiveness. For snap varieties, the 
Wax and Southern Prolific are among the best. For shell 
beans, the Limas are very fine, but quite difficult to raise. 
In the culture of the running varieties, I find by selecting 
the pods for seed that grow lowest on the vine and ripen 
earliest, the vines can be materially shortened and still not 
lose their productive qualities; and also, I find, by selecting 
the last that ripen, and highest on the plant, the vines will 
not only grow longer, but the beans are a much longer time 
in ripening. 
