St. Tammany farmer., 1922-02-18
RAISING SNAP BEANS FOR EARLY
MARKET IN ST. TAMMANY.


should be taken to have excellent
drainage.
For another season the farmer
should plan to increase greatly the
humus content of his soil by ploWiny g
under green manure crops, as this
practice makes the use of commercial
fertilizer more beneficial and greatly
increases the yield of the crop, and
also improves the drainage and
moisture-ho1ding capacity of the soil.
Mr.. Simmons recommends applica-
ton of 1900 to 1900 pounds of COM
mercial fertilizer to the acre, to be
mixed in the hill before planting as
above suggested for potatoes. This
fertilizer will also increase the crop
which will follow the beans He
also recommends that a complete
mixed fertilizer, preferably 1922,
be used, as it is less expensive.
These percentages are very import
ant, and the grower should realize
that his results will depend in con-
siderable degree upon using the
proper kind of fertilizer. In general
for truck crops the U. S. Department
Of Agriculture recommends for the
South, when homemade mixture is
used, the following formula:
$50 pounds of nitrate of soGe.
$50 pounds Of cottonseed meal.
1000 pounds of acid phosphate, 16
per cent.
200 pounds of murate or sulphate
of potash.
This will give the grower an idea
of what to require in a ready mixed
fertilizer. Another important point
is that an application Of nitrate of
soda each week from the time of
first blooming will considerably pro-
long growth, say so pounds to the
acre at first and lesser amounts
thereafter
The seed should be planted or
drilled in rows from Is to So inches
apart, depending on the kind of culti-
walton, whether by hand or horse i'm
plements. In the row the seed
should be dropped to 4 inches
apart. It is usual to plant one
bushel of beans to the acre. The
depth of planting should be from
l 1-2 to 2 inches.
ers should all Plant the same variety
of beans. There are several reasons
for this, the most important being
to obtain uniformity of product and
development, SO that all can be
marketed at the same time, for there
is great advantage in marketing
in carload lots. Mr. Simmons rec
ommends the Black Valentine bean.
and for marketing purposes this is
certainly one Of the best, if not the
very best on several accounts, for it
is early, hardy, withstanding cold
and resisting blight, as we'll
IS being IA good long distance ship
per. There are others almost equal
y good, such as the Stringless Green
Pod bean. An early bean has great |
advantages. AS stated in bulletin |
from the North Louisiana Station I
This is very important. On the |
10th day of May we have secured as
high as 81 a bushe1, and Immediately t
afterward the prices began to de-
;line, until by the 5th OF June only
. cents per bushel was obtainable
)ur general experience esta b1ishes
iC 1e%IL t1llL LI4C IIidlll CiOp lOI
market should be planted 50 as to
'e ready not later than the 18th of
lay, and earlier if possible
AS soon as the young plants ap-
ear the soil should be stirred AMI
kept up as frequent as
ossib,e during the entire season of
rowth. The object should be to
tir the surface Of the soil only ami
0 leave it fine and loose, and for
his purpose a small toothed culti-
ator should be used. Deep culti-
alton should have two main pur- i.
oses, to keep the ground free from
reeds and by the dust mulch to pre- /:
ent loss of moisture K
For the market the pods are allow
d to attain nearly full size and are
licked just before the beans begin to
evelop in the pods. Picking Should
e done at least every week. By
eeping the pods closely gathered as
ast as they are ready for use, and /
eeping the soil well stirred, and by
publications. of nitrate of soda after
ley begin to bloom, the plants will :
e kept bearing much longer than
therwise.
The chief advantage OF the associa- i