The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-04-02

Contributed by N. D. Agri. Station.)
There has been but little attempt al
bean growing in North Dakota bu'
numerous inquiries indicate that some
OF the farmers are considering its pos
abilities.
Because of the manner of harvest
ing It is practically necessary to grow
this crop free from weeds and for this
reason proper preparation of the seed
bed Is most important.
A timothy sod broken after the hay
Is cut then disced later when the SOD
is partly rotted, makes an ideal place
tor planting beans the following spring
~ this will be free from weeds.
1t is also possible to grow crop on
timothy sod plowed in the spring. In
this case the land should be plowed at
the ordinary depth and fitted at once
tor planting by thorough dragging and
discing.
Stubble land or other land that is
weedy should be cleaned for season
before attempting to grow Deans. This
may be accomplished by blowing the
land shallow in the fall, blowing again
in the spring and sowing to barley or
millet and blowing after this is cut but
before the pigeon grass or weeds
ripen.
Il the land is spring plowed do it
elZly so weeds will have time to ger
inmate then they can be destroyed.
Harrow the land early to start weeds.
About May 18th disc, tapping half.
About May Goth 60 over the field with
tho spring tooth harrow going cross
wise from the way it was disced. Just
before planting harrow we'll.
Nay 25th has been found good
time for planting. A grain drill can
be used, shutting up some of the feeds
so as to SOW in rows two feet apart.
This takes threefourths to one bushel
per acre. Two inches is good depth
to plant. 1t is well to plant crosswise
Of the blowing when convenient. 1t
saves having rows in the dead furrow.
In seven to ten days the beans will
be coming up. Go over the field with
tho weeder. One without wheels is
preferred. If the ground is loose some
times use the harrow. When the frst
two leaves are out go over them again
with the weeder going crosswise of
rows. This should be done in the att
ernoon Of a sunny day as the plants
ire less liable to break. II one has
hut few acres the one horse cultiva-
tor can be used, one having ten or fif-
teen small shovels is preferred. I use
a four rowed sugar beet cultivator.
This requires two horses and cult.
Yates three rows at time. The cul-
tivation should be shallow and con:
tinue till the beans are in blossom.
Two or three times over the field
should keep it clean.
II the pigeon grass is allowed to
grow it will not only reduce the yield
but necessitate pulling the crop by
hand.
There are machines on the market
for pulling two rows at time. The
ordinary walking plow2can however be
used. Set 1t to merely scrape the sur
face. striking the row near the point of
the share. 1t will crowd the beans out
leaving them free from the ground
though they will be partly in the loose
dirt. In pulling strike out land 60
ing to the right for while then to the
lett. When fair width strip has been
pulled take the hay rake in the morn.
ing and rake into small wind rows. 1t
is 4 good idea to have a man follow
tho rake with fork and throw the
windrow over so the wheels Of the
rake will not run over it. This raking
must be done in the morning when
there Is some dampness or dew as
they can then be driven over without
many Smelling. Run the rake opposite
to the way they were pulled. Gather
the windrows into small piles. The
beans IAN be threshed ats: they have
lain in the piles day II IN" weather
Is fair. If they must be stacked let
them get dry first. Make the stack
marrow. Put down a good layer of diy
straw for bottom. - s-t'
Beans caN be threshei with the or'li-
nary thresh:ng machine replacing the
concaves with board and changing
some OF the pulleys. 1t will split a
good many. The huller is better and
small ones are made for farm use.
There are tanning mills that will re-
move the split beans. The beans need
to be hand picked. Machines are made
that make is possible to do the work
quickly. ......-.
~aue rue nnvlEe will MEvEa