The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1917-06-15

ufoW Best Where There Is Not Tor
Much Rain; Showers Tend to Dis.
coloration; Harvest Crop PROMPT
ly; Do Not Stack Before Beans Are
Dry.
The room for increasing the bean
crop IN montana is almost without
limit. The only obstacle is the high
price of seed. In this state thew
should be planted before June 20
Inc bean crop may be grown under a
wide range of climatic conditions, and
farmers living within 100 miles of
the Canadian border should not plant
them at this late date.
shoWery season greatly Injuries
the crop, after it gets fairly we'll
along, because of discoloration. But
with the passing of June the dry sea-
son commences here. There are thou
sands of acres in Montana where
bean growing conditions are ideal.
Acts as Summer Fallow.
Land intended for summer fallow
would be especially adaptable, as the
growth and care of the bean crop
would more than fulfill the functions
OF the summer fallow, as the crop
adds to the nitrogen contents of the
soil as we'll as cleaning it. Nitrogen
is the dearest element of plant food.
The bean crop will take it out of the
air and deposit it in the soil
At the present time the govern
ment is encouraging the importation
OF nitrogen from Chile at great cost
The bean crop, therefore, furnishes a
most excellent preparation for a
wheat crop next year.
Beans will grow fairly we'll on
many soils. Those most suited, how
ever, for this crop are mild loans
and average sandy loans, especially
the latter, which are warm and
therefore tend to force the quick
growth and early ripening. This crop
may be grown. however, with good
success in almost any SOIL Those
very rich in organic matter, as muck
soils, are the most Objectionable, as
they promote excessive growth of
vine, which is against the production
of seed.
Frost Is Harmful.
Very light lands will profit by fer
tllization. Good crops can be grown
on land of low organic matter. The
bean crop is quite susceptible to in
jury from frost. This is true of it at
any time while growing Because of
this there are areas within 100 or
even 200 miles of the Canadian Dor
der where the hazard from frost will
discourage the growth of the crop.
While beans may be sown on
weedy land in want of cleaning, it
may be grown with less labor on over
turned sod, whether clover or old
grass sod. Such land is less foul
than stubble land and the vegetable
matter in the sod in decayfngn stimu-
lates growth in the beans.
The soil for the crop may be plow-
ed at any time until seeding. If plow-
ed Immediately before seeding in dry
areas, the plan is advisable to pack
the soil Immediately after blowing
to prevent the escape of moisture.
The rows run all theway from 20
to "a inches, according to variety
used and the soil. Twenty-seven
inches is the favorite distance. Most
commonly the bean plants are five
or six inches apart, but some planters
put them in small hills to give them
the benefit of more sun to ripen them.
Three Pecks to Acre Best.
Usually three pecks of seed are
planted to the acre. In dry areas it
should be half bushel. The navy
bean has most frequently been
grown in the past. The bean most
frequently grown in the west now is
the California free bean, which is ex-
traordnarily productive.
Cultivation should follow as soon
as the beans appear and should be
frequent until the plants begin to
bloom, when it should cease. Hoe
ing may be necessary in some lands
to keep the soil clean.
Promptness in Harvesting.
The crop should be harvested
promptly, lest rains should injure the
appearance of the bean. This may
result even before the plant has been
pulled or raised. In small areas the
crop is pulled by hand and placed in
small piles to dry. Bean harvesters
are best in large areas. These ma
chimes cut the stems below the ground
generally in two rows at time, and
some leave the beans piled in one
row. In other instances they are
gathered in small punches after the
cutting. They should dry f. ON four
to six days. The straw will dry in
less time, but not the beans.
If they are stacked before the
beans are dry, sweating will accur
and the beans will be discolored.
Twenty bushels to the acre is the av-
erage yield. A small machine often
is used to harvest them on the field.