Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1908-09-11
BEANS A PROFITABLE CROP.
Washington and Idaho Farmers Should
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-
side-sd 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 well adapted to being grown on
summe, ALLOW, 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-
fduced in the state of California 1885,
751.714 pounds, representing a gross
value of $S,060,948.00. 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
n pounds, value f. o. b. shipping station
It about $4,000 per ton.
"a The cost of blowing, narrowing,
d seeding and harvesting is estimated at
1t s14.OO per acre. One man and two
Ie horses with bean planter can put In
10 on an average of twelve acres per day.
About 40 pounds of beans are required
a. TO seed an acre, the average cost or
er which is S1.O0. The yield, estimated at
o. 2lb cents per pound, makes a gross
Dis return per acre of $4S.9O-deducting
TX the cost of planting and harvesting,
81 leaves a net return of $34.9O per acre
90 The net profit, therefore, on the 49,
be 600 acres under cultivation in that
state in 1906 was $4,571,9000O
After the beans are threshed, the
vines are dried and baled and bring
$500 per ton for cattle feed.
ic- In 1906 the shipments by sea to for
eign ports from San francisco
Oh amounted to approximately S6,Ooo'Oo'
Pi- pounds and from California by raj
ar 22O, 272,S97 pounds.
otsn o.
ON tensively grown in southern Michigan
the and are shipped as far west as tn
In western portion of Montana. They ar
nm nlanted in Michigan In the latter par
us of April and in May and are harveste
I'M in September and October; they ar
de drilled with a twohorse drill, simila
val TO those used in drilling wheat, in row
Tor ahout three and a half feet apar
'ne leaving room for either one-horse
two-horse cultivator. They usually Gu
tivate beans there from two TO fot
times during the season, the success
of the crop depending largely upo
WV the keeping them free from weeds.
The harvesting takes place durir
September or early in October, and u
wac beans are cut by means of two hol
'y zontal knives attached to two-hor'
~ cultivator. The knives are set 10
~ enough to cut the roots, leaving Il
tily vines anu =. @u' naIad into wind ROY
49,, and allowed to dry.
They are threshed with an ordina
'"o threshing machine and cleaned by
"a. .ao tanning mill equipped with "be'
Their sNi eo"' -, -. A., .,o,.ee
ones.
The crops in Michigan run fro
twenty to thirty-five bushels per ac
poS- and sell for from SLIPS to $500 ,
d" bushel. The average value of
'ose crop there will run from $500
folk T'o.v' ,,.., .,..o ,,ov,, IN
ex- - g., uo;s,,, u,baat !
a." the increased returns are more tn
A' enough to offset that, and the
would be greatly benefited because
the growing of beans the land is
depleted of its fertility and is plac
nan, in the best of condition for the s.
llleu cessful growing of grain crops.
'any There is a large consumption
irlng beans in the states of Washingt
dis - Isoho Montana Wvoming a
.ne the Dakotas, which the growers
1oh N Chnnld