Democratic messenger., 1894-06-09
A Crop That Will Pay.
Mann Farmers Overlook the
Humble Bean.
BUT THERE'S GOLD IN ITS POD.

Bean Planters, Bean HarVcStcrs
and Bean Thra>hcr> Now Les
sen the Cost of Labor and
Put the Crop ON II Pay
ing Basis.
This country does not grow enough
beans for consumption, oyer 81 900
900 worth being imported some years,
vet the prices range from 81 To 81
per bushel, and the Weld is anywhere
from 20 To 40 bushels per acre, on
very rich ground as much a> &c
bushels per acre having been secured
though such yield is the exception
Pennsylvania produces but small
crop compared with what should be
done. rs her soil is we'll adapted iol
them. From one 10 two bushels oi
seed per acre should he used. accord
ing Ia the variety, the smaller th,
seed the less required by measure
They are grown IN rows of sufficient
width 10 admit Of shallow cultivation
with the horse hoe, ami the seed ma,
he drilled in with IL hand drill, or ma,
he dropped with intervals of eigh
inches between each hill. One ad
vantage is that beans are Il summer
crop. and may he planted in June, thu
crop being ready TO harvest in Septem
ber, thus coming in for work after th,
corn crop has been planted.
LABOR IN CULTIVATION.
One of the drawbacks in CROWN.
beans has been the labor required
Formerly lhev were planted b, hand
the stalks prlled up and great care
exercised in curing and failing th'
seed. At the prsant time there ar,
bean planters. bean harvesters an,
bean threshers, which bring the cos
down To minimum, entailing n'
greater expense than is required fol
wheat, while the crop is grown ant
harvested in much shorter time
The White Navy. or White Wonder
variety is usually preferred. and th'
main point Is To have the beans clear
ana free from impertections, which i
the most tedious opperation connecte,
with their growth. as they must ire
quently he hand picked, process
which is performed during the winter
however, and by Younger members o
the family. or hy giving employment
to girls and boys at such light work
II the crop has been well cared fol
this will not lie as teliuIs or necessar,
as when the stalks and beans hav,
been exposed to the weather.
HARVESTING AND STORING.
The greatest care necessary with III.
bean crop is in harvesting and storing
The stalks are cut when the pods turn
yellow, and they should be cured
sufficiently To avoid heating when
stored under shelter. To guard against
rains they may he stacked and covered
and then gotten under shelter rs sool
,s possible, as rains discolor the beans
They may be failed out ON the barn
floor or threshed. \ bean threshel
should be used, or they may he
trampled with horses. Potash ana
lime are splendid fertilizers for the
crop, and as beans are legumes. 81
nitrogen -gaiherers, the stalks will add
more To the soil than they remove
when turned to the soil rs manure
and will he picked over and eaten by
cattle to II certain extent 1t would
be better for an inexperienced person
to try small crop this season, If on,
one half an acre, in order to learn the
details, as handling them one season
only will he sufficient to enable grower.
to understand how to grow them in
larger amounts during another year
while even the small crop will b,
found valuable for home consumption