Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-14
to plant the beans until there is a GER
taintY Of frost time being past. Usually

to plant the beans until there Is a GER
tainty Of frost time being past. Usually
the first of June, in this vicinity,
would be as early as it would be adj
visable to plant the navy bean.
Beans may be planted by almost n
method that will insure the proper
distribution of the seed, and covering
it up to a good depth, If there are
large areas to be planted, there are
regular bean planters that can be used,
OF an ordinary corn planter will do
good work, n in some cases the or
binary grain drill can be used to good
advantage. Some grain drills are not
equipped so that they will handle the
seed without cracking them; others
Where a grain drill Is used 1t Is
advisable to stop up a part of the
holes so that the rows will be put
about 80 inches apart, which is the
proper width to put the ordinary
bean. The grain drill nay be set to
plant FOL or v rows at a time, and
if care is exercised in driving. a splen-
did job can be done in this way. and
done very rapidly.
Special plates are also provided for
the corn planter, and the rows then
doubled. However, this puts them a
little close together. and makes culti-
walton difficult. If it is found that
the grain drill will handle the seed,
a much better job can be done. and
the rows will be more uniform, and
cultivation after the grain drill will
be much easier, than If the rows are
doubled with the corn planter.
Narrowing After Planting.
1t is possible to harrow right after
planting, provided h seed is put in
at a good depth. However. great care
~, 10 ,.--S L. AL~
because the beans, II they are only
! just starting. are easily broken off
at the top, and II the first leaves, or
the part of the beans that comes up
first, is broken off, they are usually
killed.
After the beans are up two or three
inches high, it is possible to harrow
them with q light harrow, without a
great deal of damage, and If there has
been rain, and the ground is crusted,
and grass, ETC., starting, 1t may be adj
visable to do this, even though there
is an occasional bean broken off.
Rate of Seeding.
The amount Of seed sown per acre,
ment that may be given the beans
after they are up. If there is only
a very thin seeding, it would of
course be advisable to be very care
full not to break off any plants. How
ever, If a liberal seeding Is used. more
vigorous treatment may be given with
the harrow or c%ultivator, and II an
occasional bean is covered up or
broken off, it would not make much
difference.
However, as the price Of seed is
very high. it would be advisable to
seed as thinly as possible, on this ac-
count. Ordinarily, with rows 80 in
ches apart. it will take from 20 to
80 pounds per acre to give a good
stand, providing the seeds r Of good
strong vitality. 1t would be advisable
to make a test Of the seed before
planting. and know that the germina-
The rate Of seeding should provide
for a bean at least every three or four
inches in the row, n the rows should
be 30 inches apart. This is probably
as light a seeding as should be made.
More plants will do no harm, except
that there will not be as many pods
to the plant. but there will be more
plants to the row with a thicker seed
ing. Beans should yield from 10 to
20 bushels per acre
Cultivation.
AS soon as he beans are large
enough to be cultivated, the ground
should be kept stirred between the
rows, and only very slight killing or
ridging should be made by the cult
walton. That is, it is advisable to
throw very much dirt to the beans.
The pods on the navy beans are often
formed very close to the ground, and
if very much ridging is one the pods
will lie on the ground, and often be
damaged by rains before harvest.
C~ultivators with four or more small
shovels or a side are most suitable
for c%ultivating beans, where the rows
are put only 80 inches apart, and if
four to five small shovels are used,
two rows may be cultivated at the
time.
The ordinary corn cultivator may be
used for cultivating the beans. but
it is necessary to have a cultivator
that has an adjustable arch, so that
the wheels nay be put in more closely
together thar they are for the cult
walton of corn.
The one-horse garden c%ultivator is
very largely used in the cultivation OF
beans, and this requires a trip be-
tween each two rows. With the very