Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-03-06

il bc right or wrong. As TO pole beans,
it is poor policy TO try to grow them
without sOttiug poles, as the yield will be
unsatisfactory and the beans generally unsal-
able. They should be planted as soon as
the ground and atmosphere get permanently
warm, but not before, as they are more ten
der than bush beans. A little stimulant in
the hill to start them is necessary with some
of the later varieties, and very acceptable
to all. They should have plenty Of room,
say 3 by 3 feet, or even more IL rank
growers For poles l find white cedar
split quite small and from to 6 feet long
to be the best, as they are cheap, strong,
enduring, light, and the vines cling TO them
well. They should be set as soon as the
beans arc planted that the vines may take
to them at the first start.
,tantaI Harvesting. aI ESQ.
Beans should be harvested as soon as the
latest pods get full grown, although they
may not be fully ripened, as few days de-
lay will often cause much loss and trouble.
Although few beans will be quite soft at
harvesting, if properly cured they will be-
come hard and good. When pulled tho
dirt should bc we'll shaken from the roots
and the stalks or vines placed tops down in
small lunches and left to wilt or il the
weather be fair, until they are pretty dry,
but it Is not best to risk too much, for when
thoroughly wited, or partially dry, all stiff
podded beans can be stacked with perfect safe
ty. In stacking, stiff stake or 8 feet long
should be firmly driven into the ground and
few stones or sticks placed around the
bottom to keep the beans from the ground
then take the small punches and place them
about the stakes, tops out, letting the roots
cross somewhat so as not to get the stack
too large. Build up as high as convenient
and draw in the top, finishing with little
straw or grass. Thus stacked they will
stand until perfectly cured. said stiff
pOdd0d beans may be stacked, mean such
as do not shrink the pod after or while
ripeniug, such as Marrowfat, Pea, &C.,
others, among which are the HOrticulturals,
all the Wax Pods, &C., such as do not have
a stiff, plump pod, must not be stacked if
the weather be wet, or they will surely
spoil. My practice with such is to take
them to the barn when about dry enough TO
stack, and put them upen temporary scaf-
folds over the Aosr and mows, or almost
anywhere So that the air can circulate under
them, using small poles or narrow strips for
the sOaHods, and not putting on mere than
about foot in depth Of beans, keeping the
barn doors open in fair weather. l have
had the very best success in this way, and
the quantity that can be cured in this way
in our barn is really surprising.
Pole beans should be cut of at the
ground and left upon the poles until thor.
Oughly dry.
= Thrashing had better not be. done until
the beans are well cured and dry, otherwise
they will look dirty and bad. Many vari.
cites split very easily, and care must be
used in thrashing, wearing rubbers to avoid
injury by stepping on them, and leaving the
thrashed beans on the Aoer without banking
until ready to clean up. t
Preparing fOr Market.
To ct beans for market they should be
hand picked, and for this purpose find nc
better help than in the use Of common fan
mill sieve with the meshes Of the right size
Picking upon such sieve, the moving then
abOdt with the hands causes all the small
dirt, split beans, &c, TO fall through, th'
bad beans, stones, &C., being thrown out by
hand at the same time 1t is good policy
to fit them well, and although it is some la
Dor, the extra price will pay.
Fertilizers.
have not been very successful in the US,
of commercial fertilizers applied to bear
crops, and although have tried severa
kinds, have failed to see any advantage il
their use but as my object has not been sx
pertinent, 1 have not watched results SO care
fully as to be very positive in the matter
DInicultIss In the Way.
The growing Of beans, and especially tn,
different varieties used as seed by the mar
ket gardeners, is not the easy matter many
suppose, and find after having grow
from 100 to 200 bushels per year for severa
years that with the exception of peas ther,
is perhaps no more vexatious or uncertain
crop to grow. The cut worm sometimes de
stroys the crop; woodchucks take especia
delight in cropping of the young leaves; to-
much rain or too much cold when the bean
are small stunts them, too much rain a
harvest often spelling the whole crop. Rus
and premature falling Of the leaves aGec
some varieties, and both these enemies
have not been able TO guard against, althoug
they have never been caused by working Will
wet. Notwithstanding all these drawbacks
| have often realized slOO, per acre, grOs
sales, which, considering that the crop is no
very exhausting, and when compared wit
other branches Of farming in this locality, j
very satisfactory RI. w.
Shel6wne. Feb. l.
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