Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-05-23
KIDNEY BEANS.
How to Grow and Harvest This Import
ant Food Crop.
BY j. Z McAmis, Specialist IN Agron-
omy, Division of Extension, Col
lege of Agriculture, Univer
sity OF Tennessee.

slty OF tennessee.
Beans, bacon and brains are the sin
ews of this war. Brains must be be
hind the beans as we'll as guns. A. A.
DeakIns, Jonesboro, Tenn, is putting
the brains into the beans, and out OF
several years of experience he has de-
rived handsome profit and the deter.
mlnatlon to plant 60 acres this year.
His neIghbors are rapidly catching
the fever. To know this pioneer in eX-
tensive bean production in Tennessee
is TO respect his opinion, because he
has made good" HIS record is 20
bushels per acre which are now selling
above $40 90 per busheI HIS average
WELD is II bushels.
Patriotism and profit go hand in
hand, he says, and one phase of food
preparedness lies in an abundant bean
supply for next winter.
lie hearth. agrees with the Expert
ment Station IN the belief that the
Kidney Bean IS the standard table bean
for Tennessee. Its closest competitor
IS the Bird Eye" which Is slightly
later maturing variety, and is not so
we'll known on the Eastern markets as
the Kidney, but is we'll suited to home
use.
The Bunch October Is the next
choice, but this also is late in maturing
and Is hardly as good yielder as the
other varieties. The Navy Bean IS un-
satisfactory it is poo- yjelder here.
Like most Tennessee farms. Mr..
Deakins' farm has variety of soils,
and beans can be grown upon any OF
them. Fertility is the first essential.
he says, and fertile soils yield heavier
than unfertile ones, but beans, like
other legumes, outstrlp grams on poor
soils.
A loan IS better than clay. only be-
cause the lighter soils are more favor
able to perfect stand. Young field
beans are likely to ''break their
necks," as do young soy beans, in try
ing to force themselves through crust
Of clay, therefore, the loan soils are
selected first.
Mr.. Deakins applies 200 pounds of
acid phosphate to the acre and those
who have found that other farm crops
respond to phosphate on their soils,
should FOLLOW his example.
Lime IS also a great help. Stable
and other heterogeneous fertiiz-
ars would be beneficial, but are not alb
necessary.
A part OF his land which will grow
beans this summer, Is now in crimson
clover from which the seed will be
saved. Another part is in wheat. and
some in oats. Immediately after these
crops are removed, the SOIL viii be pre-
Dared for beans. 1t will be thoroughly
1sced, then plowed and puverized.
Mr.. DeakIns contends that the crop of
Deans may be grown and harvested as
easily as a crop Of corn. The cost of
seed is the only additional item OF eX-
)ense.
HALF BUSHEL 10 ACRE.
One-half bushel is sufficient to plant
an acre, though slightly larger
amount of seed would be better if they,
we're not so expensive. Beans should
)e planted in 20 inch cultivated rows.
The plants should ordinarily stand
inches apart IN the row, but If suit
Ible planter Is at hand, three seeds
nay be dropped IN hills Is inches
part. The hill method" is prefer.
Ible, because the plants may assist
zach other in breaking through the
rust. A limited area may be planted
~ hand, or by the common corn plant !
n. but extensive areas would justify |
peclal planter. The wheat drill does
lot plant Kidney Beans satisfactorily. |
PLANT SHALLOW.
The seed should be planted shallow,
-one inch deep, and covered with loose
oil. Frequent and shallow cultivation
houId be given until the beans are IN
loom. The ordinary 5 pillow cutlivator
r IA tooth harrow, are splendid imple-
1ents.
WHEN TO PLANT.
For Kidney beans, early July plant
1g is best For BIRD Eye" and Oc-