The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-02

thing about the right distance between
rows
Two patches, aggregating 1000 feet
OF rows, were accordingly planted. In
one there were double rows: that is,
two rows a foot apart with a three
foot space between the double rows.
In the other the rows were three feet
apart. The beans were dropped from
three to four inches apart. / intended
to thin out half the vines. but other
work came on and that was not done.
When the pods had matured as
snaps 1t was seen first that the har-
vesting was done rather faster in the
double rows. Then counted the pods
on each of more than two hundred
vines. A few vines had no pods.
Others carried from three to seven.
/ The average vines-say more than
half Of all-had from nine to thirteen
A few produced from eighteen to
twenty and one had exactly twenty
four.
/ these were the figures in the double
rows. From them l went to the single
rows and found the figures duplicated.
could not see any advantage In the
number Of pods to the vipe among the
rows with wider spaces. But II ap-
peared that the vines stood too close
| together In both rows. For one thing
they were so crowded that many fell
this way and that to the ground.
Then ] found the most prolific vines
were where they stood thinnest in the
rows. But there were exceptions to
this general statement. for I found
I rritI to-,
another with nineteen where the ad-
Joining vines were only three inches
away.
Granting that one experiment proves
nothing definitely, 1t appears that the
double row system Of planting should
| produce the maximum crop OF pods.
At the same time the double rows were
as easy to cultivate q used a wheel
hoe) az the single.
| When marketing snap beans I pack
them in the common four pound paper
bags which the grocers use. They
hold two quarts each. good measure.
I sold them at Is cents a bag and had
a good demand. On counting the pods
In a number Of bags I found the aver
age to be exactly 200. Later when a
part OF the crop had been allowed TO
riDen found that 200 pods. taken as
they come when the vine was stripped
clean, would produce on the average
fourteen ounces Of dry beans; and tina,
s to say my two quart bags OF snaps
I would have yielded fourteen ounces OF
Try beans each II allowed to ripen.
Now at that time (the counting and
Weighing the dry beans was done or
10 a hundred for the dry crop, bu,
ny were salsble from the cart at /;
cents a pound retail. At this rate my
AZ cent bag of snaps would have pro
J duced only l0lf cents worth OF drJ
beans
; The work OF harvesting and prepar
ng the dry beans for market wa:
greater than that Of the snaps.
, Perhaps Il is worth noting that wher
: saving beans FOR next years seed I Sc
ected long, well filled pods. and Will,
doing this counted the beans in many
, ,ods OF all sizes. A few Pods as gath
cred from the vine had no beans. Th'
H. shaped pods al the tops Of the vine.
carried one or two beans only. Wher'
the pods hung IN clusters the run o
them had four or Ave to the pod Fol-
? seed purposes / found an abundan
supply OF pods that carried six beans
r while not a few had seven and her,
and there was one that had eight.
: saved some of the eight bean pods FOL
a separate plot next year.
: Another interesting fact Is that while
, am absolutely certain that l planted
white beans and no others whatever.
: found a dozen vines that produced {
! blush purple bean. These vines wer,
scattered through the 5000 feet OF eX
. perimental rows.
Saving beans for seed involves con
5 siderable hand labor. l have thirty
three pounds OF hand picked and hanC
shel.ed beans for next springs seeding
but the work was done at odd hour
= and especially when resting from NOR
= arduous labor. So found II proved 4
e be most interesting paH'ms instea'
Q OF tedious work.