Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-09-25
BEANS A PROFITABLE CROP.
Washington and Idaho Farmers Should
Consider Bean Culture.

Consider Bean Culture.
The question of rotation of crops
and summer fallow is at present re-
ceiving considerable attention from the
farmers of Idaho and eastern Wash
ington, and it is, therefore, fitting that
the question of bean culture should be
considered.
This has already been given some
little attention by the farmers in the
vicinity of Kendrick, Troy and Julia
eta, Idaho, from which district in the
neighborhood of 100000 pounds were
shipped last year to Portland, Seattle,
Spokane and Montana points, but it is
not believed that the project has as
yet been given the attention necessary
to produce the best results.
Some of the Palouse land is con-
sidered too heavy for the growing of
some varieties of beans, but without
doubt the crop could be adapted to soil
conditions by the selection of varie-
ties and made more profitable.
1t is we'll adapted to being grown on
summer fallow, as it can be planted
late in the season with good assurance
of successful crop, if proper selection
of land is made.
During the year 1906 there were pro-
duced in the state of California 1885,
751,714 pounds, representing a gross
value of $8,O60,94800. The principal
varieties grown in that state are Bayo
Tor brown beans), Black Eyes and
Lima. The latter constitute about 80
per cent of the entire production. The
average yield per acre was about 1855
pounds, value f. o. b. shipping station
about $4,000 per ton.
The cost of blowing, narrowing,
seeding and harvesting is estimated at
$14.00 per acre. One man and two
horses with a bean planter can put in
on an average of twelve acres per day.
About 40 pounds of beans are required
to seed an acre, the average cost of
which is $1.00. The yield, estimated at
21a cents per pound, makes a gross
return per acre of $4S.90-deducting
the cost of planting and harvesting
leaves a net return of $34.90 per acre
The net profit, therefore, on the 1871,
600 acres under cultivation in that
state in 1906 was $4,571, 10000.
After the beans are threshed, the
vines are dried and baled and bring
$500 per ton for cattle feed.
In 1906 the shipments by sea to for
eign ports from San Francisco
amounted to approximately 100000
pounds and from California by raj
220, 272,897 pounds.
The white navy beans are quite ex
tensively grown in southern Michigan
and are shipped as far west as the
western portion of Montana. They are
planted in Michigan in the latter par
of April and in May and are harvested
in September and October; they are
drilled with a two-horse drill, similar
to those used in drilling wheat, in rows
about three and a half feet apart
leaving room for either a one-horse o.
two-horse cultivator. They usually cul
tivate beans there from two to fou
times during the season, the success
of the crop depending largely upol
the keeping them free from weeds.
The harvesting takes place during
September or early in October, and tbs
beans are cut by means of two hori
zontal knives attached to a twO-hors,
cultivator. The knives are set low
enough to cut the roots, leaving tn
vines and beans undisturbed they ar
, then pitched or raked into wind row
and allowed to dry.
They are threshed with an ordinar
threshing machine and cleaned by
tanning mill equipped with a "bea
SCREEN" which separates the SINAI
and imperfect beans from the perfeC
,, ones.
The crops in Michigan run froI
twenty to thirty-five bushels per acre
and sell for from $1.25 to $500 pc
bushel. The average value of tn
crop there will run from $500
$4,000 per acre.
There is little more work to b
: performed than in raising wheat, bu
the increased returns are more tina
l enough to offset that, and the so
=. would be greatly benefited because
2 the growing of beans the land is nc
: depleted of it's fertility and is place
5 in the best of condition for the SUI
e cessful growing of grain crops.
l There is a large consumption {
t beans in the states of Washington
: Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming an
l the Dakotas, which the growers
0 Washington and Idaho should be abb
to supply with an advantage owe
California and Michigan producin
points, of cheaper freight rate.
j Schools Will Exhibit.