Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-03
The lima or ..Rntter,, Rean-


am not aware that this bean is Guilt
waited to any extent by our Southern mar
ket gardeners or truckers, though it is
grown in small way in most of our family
gardens. 1 rarely notice any reference to its
cultivation in our agricultural papers.
Seed butter beans are quoted by Landreth
and Henderson respectively at $40 80 and
$12 per bushel this spring, and ifthe South
ern grower could secure anything like
half these prices for his crop ue would
certainly be justified in planting a con-
siderable area to it. l don't know but
what it might be made quite profitable at
prices One-fOurth OF those quoted by Lam
dreth. While it is a tedious and expen-
sive crop to grow compared with most
farm crops, yet if iris is made up for in
the price obtained it need not be an obiec-
ton to its adoption as money crop by
Southern farmers or gardeners. Those
who are so situated as to get the poles
for the cutting and hauling can, OF course,
grow this crop to more profit than those
who have to buy the poles. Some growers
at the North have essayed to grow the
Lima bean without poles, relying on thor
ough pruning to make the vines stOcky,
and have claimed that it is very salts
factory plan, but it is hardly possible that
a large yield can be made in this manner.
One serious objection to this plan would
be that the vines would be beaten down to
the ground by heavy rains and many of
the beans would become discOlOred, if not
r0tted, by contact with the soil. If they
are to be grown at all it is far better to
adopt the pole plan. At distance Of 6x4,
which is the best distance, it would re-
quire about 1900 poles to the acre, and
such quantity could not be bought gene
rally for less than IS or SO. In some parts
of the State they could not be had for this
price. Where young timber is plentiful
and the poles to be had for the cutting and
hauling, they can be cut and hauled up in
the winter at times when no ordinary farm
work could be carried on, and the cost
need not be greater than 81 or So per acre.
1t is not desirable that the poles be cut
longer than feet-one foot to go in the
earth. -Four feet above the surface would
be sufficient. There is good reason for
having them longer to start with, however.
If cut to s feet long the poles may be
used second time, and some Of them
third time, by simply cutting of the part
that has become decayed from contact
with the soil. Where the poles are over
feet it is incOnvenient picking the beans.
Oak and hickory saplings, 2 to 4 inches in
diameter, are about as good as can be had
generally. Pine poles will do very we'll
for one year.
When an acre or more is planted it is
much better to check the land and very
littlc hoeing will be needed. Lay off rows
feet previously breaking the soil if ne
cessary and put in the manure and throw
2 burrows on it. Then check across at 4
feet, and then distribute the poles. With
a crOssbar make holes about II inches
deep, working the bar around so as to ger
the holes large enough to receive the poles.
Ram the poles in and, with the feet, fill
up around the pole and press firmly, leav-
ing a slight depression for the seed. Drop
s to 10 seeds around the poles and cover
with a hoe. AS soon as the young plants
show the third or fourth leaf thin cut all
but three. PloW out and hoe, and as soon
as the vine gets to the top of the pole
laterals abu ndantly. This trimming will
have to be repeated two or three times to
produce a large crop of beans. If not
thus trimmed they will not produce near
so well. Beans do not require a very
large application OF ammonia, but the
supply of phospates and potash should be
literally applled-at least 200 lbs. each of
acid phosphate and kainit. If the manure
is all applied in the drill the cross ploW-
ing will place the manure all about the
hill. The cultivation must be shallow
after one good breaking of the middles.
have never been able to test the possibili-
bilities of yield of dry beans, but think,
under high culture, 40 bushels might be
secured; the product will range from 10
to 40 bushels. Generally the green beans
are readily salable in market at good
prices, but whether they have proved a
profitable crop to ship North have no
knowledge. S. A. Cook.