Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-02
THE NAVY BEAN QUESTION.

IhE NAV
Some months ago we published in these
columns an article attempting to give good
reasons for why the navy bean, sometimes
called the yankee soup beam" might be
made successful and profitable crop for
Texas. The article attracted good deal of
ate ltiop, and brought to US numerous let
tiers (some of which we published) indors
ing our views and showing that the bean
was already raised in Texas TO consider
able extent, for home use, and that it was
invariably a success. The interest worked
up by US spread beyond the borders of our
own state, and now comes the Kentucky
Farmers Home Journal saying, in sub
stance that the United States imported
last year about 81 100000 worth Of white
navy beans, which might as well have been
produced in this country. OF course one
feels almost ashamed to mention, in Texas,
any supposed-to-be great thing involving so
small matter as only $l,00O,0O0. Texas
don't build much on 4 single million. You
who read this page Of THE GAZETTE well
know that last week we showed you by an
argument irrel4cabfe that Fort Worth
alone was losing at least $1,000, 900 year
by not having her surroundings settled up
ana properly worked But outside OF
Texas 81 001 is big thing, so we may
talk on about the navy bean after our con-
temporary, suggesting, however, that
should Texas once become fairly concerned
III navy bean culture. she'd talk millions in
dollars aud cents instead of 81, 100000
n
Of growth, and far more profitable
than either corn, wheat or cotton.
One would think that this boosted coun-
Try Of ours. with It's vast territory and
yaricd climate. might produce beans
enough for home consumption, and even
grow few 10 spare. An increased atten-
ton 10 this subject is all that is necessary
10 effect the desired increase in the home
growth Like all other branches of agri-
culture, 10 DE made profitable i must be
learned and properly managed.
IN the selection of land for the white
navy bean. continues the Home journal.
you should look ont for thorough drainage.
The land need not be extremely rich-me-
dunn fertility viii answer every purpose
If not u TO medium fertility ii should be 50
brought III by the application Of manures.
Wood ashes usually give good results, espe-
oialy if supplemented with a little bone
Ileal or super phosphate. \ good potato or
vegetable manure can always be depended
upon as Il fertilizer for navy beans. Pre-
pa.e the ground by blowing and thorough
narrowing and rolling Plant seed with a
drill or by hand Inthe latter case burrows
must be marked out, say three feet
apart and I'm inch or two deep. After
planting, seeding may be covered. and the
soil iirmed by means of the feet. Leave
plants six to eight inches apart, and culti-
yate freely Do not hill Small beans
viii require about half a bushel of seed to
The acre: medium three pecks, and the
large sorts one bushel. The time of plant
ing varies according To the variety to be
planted The early varieties may be
planted as late as July, while the later ones
should be planted as early as Juno. OF
course this IS presuming that the region is
one Of a fair amount Of rainfall throughout
The season In region where the the rain
fall IS good early in the season, but is la
ole to be followed by severe summer
are 9TH, it would pc best 10 get the crop in
IS early as possible to give Il the benefit Of
the spring rains.