Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-07-11
Breeding Better Beans.

known it is a fact that Maine stands !
among the leading states Of the Union
in respect to the amount of its bean
production. There are a number of
good reasons, however why the guam
tity of beans grown in the State /
should be increased beyond what 1t
now is. In the first place most local
tiles in the State are very we'll adapt
ed to the growing of field beans of 1
fine quality. In the second place the
Maine farmer is very favorably stu
ated relative to the marketing. Statis-
ties show that on tfae~Syerage the
farm value of beans is higher in the
state of Maine than in any other 4
state in the Enis5nsS In the long run
the Maine farmer gets more per 1
bushel for his beans than the farm
ers in any other section of the country.
This favorable situation in respect 10
price IS undoubtedly due to COM
hination of two chief causes. First,
| the favorable location relative to one
of the best bean markets in the eoun
| TRY. namely Boston, and second the +
high quality of the product grown in
Maine.
The old fashioned yellow Eye bean.
which is now grown practically in no
lis certainly one of the most valuable
beans for baking purposes which ex-
lists Old-fashioned yellow Eye beans ],
of first quality always command
premium in the market There are
TWO great difficulties. however, with
which the bean grower in this Stare
has always had TO contend in handling
the cid fashioned yellow Eye beans
IThese are first its low resistance 10 E
| disease attack with the resulting low
Yields. and second the failure of even
the best strains to come true to type.
| In 1911 the Maine Agricultural Elk
pertinent Station undertook some
4 breeding experiments with yellow Eye
beans. including both the old fash
toned and the improved varieties. for
4 the purpose of seeing whether some
Thing could not be done by modern :
methods of breeding TO overcome these
1.-TWO difficulties under which the bean
growers labor. Samples Of seed of all
the strains which could be found of
| yellow Eye beans We're obtained and
| carefully sorted as to type. In 1871
about 200 selections from these, rep
Presenting as wide a range of different
TYPES as possible, We're planted out at
| Highmoar Farm, one bean to a hill,
in order that an exact pedigree record
might be kept. Since the bean is nor
mally n self poTlinated plant this
means that a large number of pure
Hines of Yellow Eye beans showing
different characteristics have been
Istarted at this station. Careful rec
erds were made both in the field and
with the harvested crops regarding
disease resistance, yield. quality, de-
! STABILITY of type. etc. The most de-
4 sirable of these pure lines or strains
are being propaeated further at High
| moor Farm this year. The planting is
| being done in such d way that strict
/ pedigreee viii be maintained. Among
fthe many selections made number
have appeared which are of very de-
/ sirable type and high yielders. These
strains will be tested further and If
| they prove upon more extensive trial
| to bear cat the promise they give now
| they viii certainly form valuable adj
/ ditions to the agricultural resources of
the State
| In connection with this work expert
ments in crossing are also being car
| ried out in the hope that by tn s-a9pli-
/ cation of the new knowledge of breed
ing which has come during the last
!, decade ii may be possible 10 comoina
disease resistance with high yielding
equality and other desirable character
! isties in these yellow Eye beans. II
/ WILL of course take some years be-
| fore the results of this line of work
! win be in hand sufficiently to give a
| basis for application or the distribu-
ton of seed. That il is promising
+, line of investigation. however, cannot
| be denied In view of the brilliant re-
/ suits which have been obtained in this
method in the case of other plants
! than beans.
In order to test the value of any
new productions which may come out
of these bean breeding experiments
/ the station is carrying on at High
4 moor variety tests of some eight of
the best commercial varieties of yell
How Eye and Pea beans. These variety
test plots are planted each year with
good clean samples of seed from the
variety test plot OF the same variety
of the year before. These plots show
the average results of which the va
lriety is capable. and serve as a basis
! of comparison by which the value of
any new sorts which may come from
the breeding experiments may be
measured.
4 One of the most urgent needs in
connection with bean growing in
Maine is the definition of market
standards for beans. in order that the
| farmer may know which is the type
most desired by the marked, and what
| will in consequence bring him the
highest price. committee Of the Ex-
pertinent Station Council has been
formed for the purpose of looking into
/ this matter. and in corporation with
other agricultural interests in the
State, eventually of reaching If pos
sible a precise definition of the type
of bean which is most valuable in
| market and which should therefore be
grown.
CHAs. d. WOODS, Director.
Orono. Me-, 1912.