Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-04-09
BEAN POSSIBILITIES AND PRoeAell-
TIES

| With the present unremuneratiVe
prices for wheat and some other farm
crops, the wonder Is that more farmers
do not grow beans. A large area OF land
in different parts Of the country is suited
10 the crop. IL Is believed by some that
land too poor for any other use Is Just
the thing for beans. But while tney
will perhaps make a fair crop on tnin
land, on which other crops would Iaii,
good soil Is appreciated by them. Iney
will not usually do well on black, mucky
or wet land, as such induces too much OF
a growth of vines. But good wheat land
should produce good beans.
Where the crop is grown on q large
scale so that machinery can DC largely
used. the cost OF growing should not oe
materially greater than that OF growing
an equal area Of wheat. They may oe
planted by machinery. harvested by ma
chiuery, threshed by machinery, ana the
large BUYERS in bean growing districts
use machinery largely In picking over
the product. The yield will probably,
on the average, equal that OF wheat
Then look at the price per bushei COM
pared with that of wheat. The straw,
too. Is a valuable food for sheep, as well
as for other livestock, Tar exceedins
wheat-straw In this respect.
Besu prices, usually high, are likely
to be higher this year. Inc domesue
demand always exceeds the homegrown
supply, and large quantities are ANNUALLY
imported. Ii Ia not creditaoie 10 Tue
farmers of this country that these large
importations are permitted to continue.
The wholesale prices OF these foreign
beans are usually about 10 per cent less
than those of our native grown beans OF
the same varieties. Besides this, the
former must pay duty OF 20 per cent ao
valorem. so IL would seem that Amer'-
can farmers ought to be able to compete
successfully with the imported article.
To be sure we export some-iargeiy neu
Kidpeys-but the imports are iar in eh-
cess OF the exports.
The imports come mostly from Europe
perhaps most largely from Hungary
and some from France. The varieties
are Medium and Pea. Statistics snow
that the importatiops at the ports Oh
New York, Boston and Philadelphia Tor
the crop wear OF 1928, were .ll.Vio
bags OF 200 pounds each; for ls9s-s,
still larger. al4,776 bags. But this
wears imports are not likely to he so
large. for the foreign bean-grow'hg
countries were also the victims OF drouth
last summer, and the crop was materisi-
ly shortened thereby. Some authorities
e.timate the shortage In Hungary at 6o
to - per cent. This may be little hign'
but from the quantities so far received,
hn v.
IL is evident that the crop is very snor.'
Holders seem TO be OF this opin'on, rs
the market is very firm and prices are
advancing.
The domestic crop is also short, ana
receipts Ia leading markets are mucn oe-
low those OF last year. Good authorities
report the Canadian stock as nearly ex-
hausted and leading dealers supplies
very short. CALIFORNIA; supply Is also
short and stock OF good quality Is re-
ported 10 be extremely scarce. ne
GENTS in the New York market so Tar
this wear are much below those OF last
wear, while the exports are only ABOUT
half those for the same time one year
ago. Taken altogether, the outlook lot
the bean crop. so lar as oenhan" anu
prices are cOnctfutu. u SvV"'
California Lmas cut quite figure 10
the eastern markets. The crop OF these
las, year was poor one, aud present
supplies are very moderate. while prices
are correspondingly high. They are
now selling ut prices about double those
OF wear ago. Added to this IA the iset
that holders are not at all anxious 10
sell. even at the prevailing high prices
IL is pretty certain that the next crop
will meet profitable market.
As 70 the best varieties To grow LOT
market, the market reports show quick
ly which bring the highest prices. Inc
Narrows and White Kidneys sell Tor the
most money per bushel now. and ked
Kidneys are not much behind. Other
considerations being equal. IL would be
easy 10 determine which is the most
profitable variety. But some kinds 40
not succeed SO well as Others in certain
soils and locations, and a trial is the
only sure method OF determining lus'
what varieties will pay best. Next 10
this Is the method OF drawing upon the
experience Of neighbors or others SIM,
larly situated. But our farmers should
grow more beans OF some kind or other
and leave the growing of wheat ana
and other Improbable crops to those
who are not progressive enough TO get
out of the old ruts.-Country Gentle
man