Middletown transcript., 1897-05-08
M1DDLETowN. DEL, MAY 8, 1897.
OF Interest
To Farmers
.
BEANS, SQUASH AND TOMATOES FOR
MARKET


MARKET.
String beans can be grown either as
first, second or intermediate crop.
The Long Island, N. Y. farmers plant
from the first week In May until the
last week in July. The first as an
early, the last as late crop, much Of
which is used for picking, and the IN
termediate paintings as chance crops
put in where there is vacant space.
The early crop comes in about the mid
die of June, If on rather light soil and
the earliest varieties are snwn. On
coed soil the average yield Is fully three
hundred bushels per acre; the cost per
bushel for picking is twelve cents. But
this does not give the slightest idea
of the profit per acre, as the price Is SO
very variable. When the grower gets
20 cents per bushel it IL considered a
good paying crop. For short time
last season good string beans brought
as much as two dollars and half per
bushel, which of course was wholly
due to q scarcity. The first crop can
be followed by sweet corn. squashes,
cabbage or kale. The second crop can
follow early peas, and then be taken
off in time for winter spinach, or un-
der favorable circumstances white tur-
nips; and the last plan ting can follow
early potatoes.
The first planting should not be
made until there Is every indication Of
warm weather, better by far defer
planting for week than to plant when
the ground is cold and wet. The best
soil for beans is light friable loan,
but whatever the nature Of the nature
of the soil may be, 1t should be made
fairly rich with well-rotted stable ma
nure, an d light coating of nitrate of
soda, say 200 lbs per acre. The soil
must not be too rich, as In that case
the growth OF vine would be at the ex-
pense of the crop. No more manure
is required for a crop of beans than for
a crop OF corn. The manure should be
spread broadcast and not worked in
deeper than four inches The best
method is to sow in drills three feet
apart and the seed dropped six inches
apart In the drill. To many this may
seem light seeding, but il the ground
is very strong, even less seed should be
used. Where squashes are to be Sec
ond crop, omit every fourth row and
plant for winter squashes, the lrst OF
second week in June. After the beans
are fairly up the crltivaior should be
used frequently, but never work the
soil deep-if more Than an inch it will
be an injury rather than benefit 10
the plants. There is another import
ant consideration in cultivating this
crop, viz, never cultivate or hoe or d is
turb in any way the crop when the
leaves are wet; therejs no CT op SO inn
patient in this respecf>Ss the bean.
Tomatoes planted in Sxery third row
succeed admirably. Sow khe seed the
FIRST week in June, drop the seeo, two
or three hill four feet apart, and thin
out to q single plant. These viii come
into bearing after the early crop begins
to fall off and the fruit will be in per-
fection about the middle of September
10 the latitude of New York city. This
will often prove the most profitable
crop of the season. After the bean
crop has been harvested, phil the vines
and spread under the tomatoes as a
mulch and to keep the tomatoes from
the ground.
For shell beans, different methods
must be observed, as the crop requires
a much longer time to mature; at the
same time some of the sorts can be
grown with profit. This is particu.
larly true with Dwarf Horticultural,
popularity known as the speckeled cram
berry, and in some localities as the
Quail-head. The pnds are stringless,
tender aud delicious and they keep SO
until thesb+alls are nearly full sized.
Asa shell be- II hey are rich and Of ex-
cellrnt flavor. AS u market variety It
Is, usually, briter paying crop than
the lImas, not because it brings q
higher price but because OF It's -produc-
tiveness.
TIL, dwarf lima beans cannot be used
for . second crop, as they require the
Rhols season 10 perfect their growth,
or rather they will continue to grow
and perfect their pods until killed by
frost. These require a richer sod and
more room than the bush snap beans,
andlhey should not be planted as early!
The 2tth of May is sufficiently early to
plant in the latitude Of New York.
The rows should be three and half
feet apart, and tie plants foot apart
In the lows. II these sorts do not
have plenty Of room they viii surely
mildew and The crop viii be q failure.
The success attending the growing Of
dwarf varieties has given them The
preferences over the pole varieties. AS
for the beans, there Is no difference