BEAN, BROAD, Vida Faba, Linn. (Faba vul garis, Moench.) Leguminosm (Windsor, Horse, English Dwarf or Scotch Bean). Figs. 303, 304.
By John Fitter.
The broad bean is grown for its grain or seed, which is used as food for man and for live-stock, and also for its herbage, which is used as fodder. It is a strong, erect annual, 2 to 4 feet tall, glabrous or nearly so, and very leafy ; leaflets 2 to 6, the terminal one wanting or represented by a rudi mentary tendril, oval to elliptic and obtuse or mucronate-pointed ; flowers axillary, dull white and with a large blue-black spot ; pods numerous, large and thick, two or three inches up to eighteen inches long ; the seeds large and often fiat.
This bean has been in cultivation since prehistoric times, and its nativity is in doubt. It is probably native to northern Africa and southwestern Asia. It is much grown in the Old World. In America its cultivation is restricted by our hot, dry summers and it is little grown outside of Canada. It is adapted in a measure to the northern Pacific coast country and to similar regions where the summer temperatures do not run high. It is particularly successful in the maritime provinces of Canada. The plant is hardy. Its culture has been spreading since the introduction of the silo.
The varieties of broad beans are numerous. It is of no value to recommend any special varieties, as local conditions largely determine which is profit able, and experience alone can direct the grower in his choice.
Culture.
Soils.—Broad beans will thrive on a wide range of soils, as long as they are rich, deep and well drained. It does best on clay loams. Immediately after the preceding crop is removed the land should be gang-plowed. In order to destroy all weeds, late summer and autumn cultivation should be given, if possible. Late in the fall the land is plowed deeply ; and if there is a stiff subsoil, the subsoil plow should be employed. Just before planting in the spring, the land is given a thorough surface cultivation to destroy any weeds that may have started, and to make the seed-bed fine.
Manuring.—In the fall or spring, a dressing of barnyard manure is given, at the rate of twelve tons per acre. If the manuring is not performed until winter or early spring it will be necessary to plow the land again.
Seeding.—When grown for seed broad beans are commonly sown with a grain drill in rows twenty eight to thirty-five inches apart. They may be hand planted. The plants should stand about two inches apart in the row. Forty to fifty pounds of seed per acre are required. When grown for silage, fodder or green-manure, it is best to sow in rows 21 inches apart. The plants will grow thicker but not mature so early, giving a heavier yield per acre. It will then be necessary to sow 50 to 60 pounds of seed per acre. The best time for planting in eastern Canada is May 15 to June 1.
Place in the rotation.—Broad beans usually come between two grain crops, but as they can make use of a liberal supply of humus they may profita bly follow meadow or pasture. For the bean crop a field should generally be used that is in need of cleaning ; and poor soils may be greatly benefited because of the nitrogen-gathering habit of the broad beans.
Subsequent eare.—Just before the plants appear above the surface, a thorough harrowing should be given to destroy weeds. Care must be taken not to tear up the small bean plants. It is advisable to use a harrow that has short teeth, or teeth that slope backward. After the plants are up, frequent cultivations should be given until the plants meet in the rows.
Harvesting.—If the crop is to be used for silage, it should be cut when the grain is in the late dough stage, that is, just before it is ripe. When ensiled, one part of beans should be mixed with ten parts of corn. If the plants are grown for their seeds, the seeds or grain should be allowed thoroughly to ripen, when the plants may be cut with an ordinary corn harvester. A fair yield of beans is about thirty bushels to the acre. After threshing, care should be taken to see that the grain is thoroughly dry, otherwise it may heat in the storehouse.