The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1923-05-10

| profitable enterprise on Montana
being lined up for varietal and GU
Extension Specialist A. ]. Ogaard
cooperative field tests by farmers
! Field beans are not being haile(
as a wonder crop but it is felt tina
beans can be introduced in some
sections as a substitute for summel
fallow on a small scale. A reason
able acreage can be grown with 9
slight additional equipment anc
without seriously interfering with
the wheat growing phases of the
farm. 1t is not recommended that
a very large tract be planted until
the region in question has been
proven especially adapted by actual
field tests. Plunging into beans is
not advisable. Conditions espe-
cially favorable for bean produc-
ton would be found where the
moisture conditions are at least fair
and where the frost-free period is
long enough to insure the maturing
of the crop. Beans are quite sus-
ceptible to frost injury.
Some of the varieties being rec
commended for trial are:
Great Northern-A large white
bean which is practically a native
of the northwest, having been rails
ed by the Indians for a long time.
They are of good quality, are early
and yield we'll.
Lady Washington-An improved
navy bean. This variety is early
and is standard in the bean grow
ing districts of northern Idaho and
Western Washington and Oregon.
Pinto A buff colored bean
which is speckled with tan and
brown patches. This is the lead
ing market variety in Colorado.
The Red Mexican or Red Miner
very early and is especially
adapted for late planting or regions
of higher attitudes and short, cool
growing seasons.
The Pilot Navy-This variety is
also very early and is praised for
its quality and evenness of matu-
rity.
On dry lands, the beans should
be planted in rows not closer than
SO inches and preferably AZ inches
apart, spacing the seed from eight
to IL inches apart. Under irriga-
ton 28-inch rows with a spacing
IF four to six inches has been found
be about right. Some dry farm
ers check row the beans in hills
II inches apart, placing five to six
seeds per hill. This permits clean
ross cultivation.
Planting can be done with a corn
'lanted equipped with bean plates s
'r an ordinary grain drill with t
ONE of the holes stopped up will $
10 very well. The seeded for beans :
S quite important. Warm sandy '
oils are best. 1t is especially i'm
,ortant that the land be smooth so t
S to permit narrowing of the small !
can plants with a minimum of in t
Try from dragging clods. t
Early cultivation consists in har- 4
owing about the time the plants
merge, using a light harrow. Har-
owing while soil surface is moist =
i'll usually cause damage as the +
lants r apt to be brittle. Har- d
owing of a dry surface will find r
lie plants much less susceptible to p
Jury. All subsequent cultivation b
lould be done with due considera- o
on to the shallow feeding habits a
the bean crop. The duckfoot or \ =
weep types of cultivator shovels a
Ich as used for corn are satisfac-
ry for the cultivation of beans.
11tivation should usually cease at a
ne of blooming when the vines II
art to run. ST
The harvesting of beans presents :
difficulties. Bean harvesters -
e on the market and several types
homemade blade devices can be
For small areas, a pillow
tn mo1dboards removed, serves
E purpose nicely. Beans are ready
harvest when pods are turning
low but are not dried out.
The beans should be cured in
all flat shocks. Threshing can
done with an ordinary separator
the cylinder speed be reduced to
revolutions by an attachment
"a ro,,Y &C copco,,oc ord o-o-bo1f