UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 
 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE benj. ide wheeler, president 
 
 ___.^.. _ THOMAS FORSYTH HUNT. Dean AN D Dl R ECTO R 
 
 BERKELEY 
 
 CIRCULAR No. 93 
 (March, 1913) 
 
 BOYS' AND GIRLS' CLUB CONTEST NO. 3 
 
 CLASS C-FOR BOYS AND GIRLS 
 
 BEAN GROWING CONTEST 
 
 ^ - F. L. Griffin 
 
 California is famous for the production of dried beans, the farm value of the 
 crop in an average season amounting to nearly $10,000,000, The very favorable 
 climatic conditions enjoyed by a narrow strip of the southern California coast, 
 ranging from San Luis Obispo to San Diego County, gives this State the reputa- 
 tion of being the greatest Lima bean growing country in the world. In the 
 interior of these coast counties as well as up and down the great Sacramento 
 and San Joaquin valleys, Limas cannot be grown commercially, but other 
 varieties of beans thrive and are produced on an extensive scale, over one 
 million sacks being harvested in some years. 
 
 It behooves every loyal Californian, therefore, to have an intelligent under- 
 standing and appreciation of the importance of this great food producing 
 plant. It is befitting, also, that every boy and girl studying agriculture should 
 take an active interest in bean production and improvement. It is the purpose 
 of this circular to suggest a method for the systematic study of bean culture 
 and to give a few brief directions for growing the crop. 
 
 Why Contests Will Help. Most boys and girls, like grown-ups, can do better 
 work when they are matching their knowledge or skill against that of others. 
 To enter a contest at once places a contestant on his mettle and, as in athletic 
 events, he strives his utmost to win just for the fun of winning. The fact that 
 prizes are offered will be only an additional incentive, tending to make the 
 contest more interesting and profitable. 
 
 Because of the natural love of competition that exists among boys and girls, 
 those who attend school in bean growing districts are encouraged to engage 
 in a friendly contest to see who can grow the most productive bean vine. This 
 competitive work is of such a nature that those living in the city are on an 
 equal footing with those attending a country school. 
 
 The students taking part in these bean growing contests will have the 
 opportunity to win prizes for themselves and bring honor to their schools and 
 communities. What is more important, through their study and practice of the 
 best cultural and plant improvement methods necessary to grow prize-winning 
 beans, they will gain valuable information concerning the science of soils and 
 plant growth that can be applied to other crops as well. 
 
 Organization Needed. Cooperation among men and women in every pursuit 
 and occupation of life is the most encouraging movement of recent times and it 
 is destined to be the most important factor in the development of a better and 
 more efficient social and industrial life. Organized effort focuses the attention 
 upon the task at hand, stimulates a desire for knowledge and inculcates the 
 study habit. Club work among boys and girls is proving just as effective as 
 the organized efforts of adults in promoting a wider and better knowledge of 
 the art and science of agriculture. 
 
The school affords an ideal place for all club and contest work to center and 
 it is recommended that whenever five or more sttidents in a school desire to 
 enter a bean growing contest they organize a club with that end in view. It 
 will not be necessary, however, for anyone to join a club in order to qualify in 
 a contest. The formation of clubs is advised because numbers lend enthusiasm 
 and cooperation engenders success. 
 
 Nature of the Contest. The Bean Growing Contest will be in two divisions 
 in order to give every boy and girl a better chance to win a prize. In the 
 first division, the contest will be between the members of each school or com- 
 munity club and the prize winners in each local contest will again compete 
 with the winners in the other club contests throughout the city or county. The 
 general or county competitive exhibition, forming the second division of the 
 contest, should be held in connection with the county or district agricultural 
 fair whenever possible or a special school fair or exhibition may be organized 
 for this purpose. 
 
 The character and value of the awards to be given in each instance will be 
 determined by the advisory committee in charge of the district or local clubs 
 and by the city or county superintendents of schools, or a committee designated 
 by them, in case of the general contest. 
 
 Contest Prises. Several awards, in cash or its equivalent, ranging in value 
 from first to fifth prize, will be given in each contest to the boys or girls who have 
 grown, selected and exhibited the heaviest yielding bean vine. The prizes will 
 be procured and awarded by the committee in charge of the respective con- 
 tests. When two or more varieties are entered in a county contest there should 
 be as many classes as varieties and approximate prizes should be offered in each. 
 
 Every contestant, whether winning a prize or not, who faithfully complies 
 with all of the contest regulations, will receive, as special recognition of his or 
 her praiseworthy work, a Certificate of Merit, signed by the Dean, College of 
 Agriculture, University of California. 
 
 In the city or county contest, a special prize in the form of a cup, medal 
 or banner, will be awarded that school, district, or community whose repre- 
 sentatives make the most favorable showing. 
 
 Contest Eegulations. 1. Boys or girls, eighteen years of age or younger, 
 who meet all the requirements of the contest, may qualify and become eligible 
 for the awards. 
 
 2. Each contestant shall actually grow at least twenty-five hills of Lima 
 beans (the pole type), or one hundred hills of the white, pink, black-eye, or 
 other bush varieties. Every variety grown should be handled under field culture 
 conditions so far as possible. (For instance, the running type of Lima will not 
 be poled.) 
 
 3. Besides performing all the cultural operations incident to bean growing 
 (save those tasks beyond the strength of boys and girls) contestants shall select 
 and exhibit the one bean vine out of all those grown on their respective plots, 
 which in their judgment, has produced the largest number of perfect beans. 
 
 4. A crop record or note book, describing all of the work done, from the 
 preparation of the seed-bed to the harvesting of the crop, shall be prepared by 
 each contestant, countersigned by the parent or teacher and filed as part of 
 the exhibit. 
 
 5. Each contestant shall be allowed but one exhibit or entry in a contest. 
 
6. In each school or district contest, only that variety of bean shall be 
 grown that experience has shown to be the best adapted to the soil and climatic 
 conditions of that section. 
 
 "7. In a county or general contest when two or more varieties are entered, 
 all of the exhibits of a given variety shall be judged in a class by themselves. 
 
 8. All contest exhibits shall be judged by means of a score card (see 
 suggestive score card on page 6, this circular). The same score card may 
 be used for judging both the local and general exhibits, excepting that in the 
 last named, only the shelled beans shall be exhibited. The record books of 
 prize winning contestants in local contests should be supplemented with a 
 memorandum by the judge of the local contests, stating the actual number of 
 pods and beans found on the prize winning vines. 
 
 9. Before contestants shall receive the Certificate of Merit, they must mail 
 their record sheets or note books, containing all the information specified in 
 the Crop Record Plan on page 6, to the Dean, College of Agriculture, University 
 of California, Berkeley. 
 
 10. The advisory committee in charge of each local club contest shall make 
 all arrangements for the exhibition that will mark the close of the contest, 
 and for procuring and awarding of prizes. After the exhibits have been scored, 
 the beans on the prize winning vines, which are to be picked off and shelled by 
 the judge or some other disinterested party, are to be placed in a suitable con- 
 tainer, together with the contestant "s record sheet, and, after being securely 
 sealed, mailed to the city or county superintendent of schools in charge of the 
 general contest. 
 
 11. All exhibits are to be the property of the contestants at the close of 
 the exhibition unless the advisory committee rules otherwise. It is suggested 
 that all of the beans produced by the vines placed upon exhibition be saved 
 by the contestants in order to plant a special bean improvement plot another 
 year. 
 
 12. These regulations, insofar as they apply to any local or general contest, 
 may be modified or changed at the discretion of the committee in charge. 
 
 GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR GROWING BEANS 
 On account of the diversity of conditions under which beans are grown 
 in California, it is impossible to give complete directions within the limts of 
 this circular, for growing the crop in the various localities. Contestants are 
 advised to consult Wickson's ''California Vegetables" and Sevey's ''Bean 
 Culture," which give more complete directions for growing beans. One of these 
 books can be found in nearly every school or public library. Bulletin No. 224, 
 California Experiment Station on Lima Bean Growing and Improvement, which 
 can be obtained free by addressing the Director, Agricultural Experiment 
 Station, University of California, Berkeley, gives complete directions for 
 growing this variety. It is suggested that these books and the bulletin be 
 studied and discussed in connection with this circular at the club meetings. 
 Influence of Climate. Severity of climate, more than any other factor of 
 environment, limits the production of beans. This is especially true of the 
 Lima and the area in which this variety can be grown commercially is confined 
 to the coast sections of three or four counties in southern California. Here 
 the ocean breezes, fogs and mists provide the favorable atmospheric conditions 
 necessary for Lima bean growth, conditions denied the inland portions of these 
 same counties and the great interior valleys by the mountains which shut out 
 
the moisture-laden ocean winds and prevent the tempering of the hot dry- 
 weather so fatal to Lima bean development. On 'the moist or irrigated lands 
 of the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, however, as well as in other 
 sections of the State, the heat and atmospheric aridity are tempered by the 
 evaporating soil moisture to the extent that other varieties of beans can be 
 grown. 
 
 Everything considered, the following rather exacting conditions have to be 
 met in successful, commercial bean culture.* During the growing period of the 
 plant, there must be no frost; the least possible duration of hot dry winds; 
 plenty of moisture in the air (relative high humidity) ; plenty of soil (capillary) 
 moisture to maintain a vigorous, vegetative development, and finally, a dry 
 soil and no rains during the ripening period. 
 
 Selection of the Soil. Beans can be grown on soils ranging from sandy to 
 adobe, but the lighter and warmer soils are most desirable, especially when 
 the growing season is short, as it takes the vines longer to mature on the heavier 
 or wet soils. Almost any good garden soil will do for growing beans in this 
 contest, providing good cultivation is given and the ground is kept from baking 
 and drying out. 
 
 Varieties to Plant. In the Lima growing sections, only that type of running 
 bean should be planted which experience has shown to be most desirable. In 
 the other bean growing sections, only that variety should be grown which has 
 been found to be most profitable in field culture. The large White or Lady 
 Washington bean is grown chiefly in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, 
 although it does well in the interior of some of the coast counties. The Pink 
 and Black-eye varieties are the best to grow where conditions of heat and 
 drouth prevail. The small White or Navy bean, which is used in making the 
 "canned beans" of commerce, is grown chiefly in the central coast counties. 
 The Bayo, a brown bean, is grown mainly in the Sacramento and San Joaquin 
 valleys. 
 
 Preparation of the Soil. Thoroughness of seed-bed preparation is the most 
 important factor in the culture of beans and much more cultivation should be 
 given the soil before planting, than after. Plow or spade the soil in the fall 
 or early winter so that the surface layer will be in a position to absorb and 
 hold all of the winter rains that fall. The surface should be stirred between 
 rains so as to conserve the moisture that has fallen. After most of the rains 
 are over, the ground should again be thoroughly plowed, spaded, or cultivated 
 with a chisel-toothed cultivator. After this until planting time, the field or 
 plot should be cultivated four or five times in order to maintain a surface 
 mulch, which will check evaporation, keep down the weeds, compact the lower 
 soil layers and leave a loose mellow seed-bed. 
 
 When to Plant. Beans should not be planted until the ground is warm and 
 in good physical condition. This will usually be from May 1st to 15th on the coast, 
 May 1st to June 1st in the interior valleys. Seeds planted in a cold, damp 
 soil are apt to rot before they can germinate or if they do start to grow they 
 will produce stunted vines that cannot mature a full crop of beans. Limas 
 should be planted in a warm, moist soil and it may be necessary to take ad- 
 vantage of a few warm days in order to get these conditions. 
 
 Planting. The distance between rows and between plants in each row 
 depends upon the variety, the s^il, and whether or not irrigation is going to be 
 practiced. For Limas, the distance ranges from thirty to forty inches between 
 
 * Wickson, ''California Vegetables." 
 
the rows and from eight to twelve inches in the row. The other varieties are 
 planted from twenty-four to thirty inches apart between rows and four to 
 eight inches in the rows. On heavy moist soils and when irrigation is used, 
 the wider distances should be used between rows and hills. Also, those 
 varieties which normally produce large vines should have a wider distance 
 between hills than varieties producing small vines. A seed drill should be used 
 for planting whenever possible as it insures the seed being placed in and covered 
 with moist soil. On small plots where it is necessary to plant by hand, club 
 members should be careful to see that the seeds are surrounded with moist soil. 
 One to two inches is the depth to plant, dry soils requiring the greater depth. 
 
 Cultivatio7i. The Lima bean vines should be cultivated three or four times 
 before they begin to run. A cultivator having knife-shaped teeth is the most 
 efficient implement to use as it keeps weeds down and mulches the soil better 
 than the straight-toothed cultivator. Cultivation will have to be continued 
 longer when the bush varieties are grown as the vines will not shade the 
 ground and consequently check evaporation so much as do the running beans. 
 
 Irrigation. While it is said that the Lima beans grown along the coast will 
 often ' ' make a crop out of a fog, ' ' irrigation will often double the yield 
 both there and in the. interior valleys. . The easiest way to apply water to 
 beans is to run it in deep furrows between the rows. Usually one irrigation 
 will be enough. In the case of Limas, the water should be applied just before 
 the last cultivation. lrriga!:ion should always be followed by cultivation just 
 as soon as possible so as to check evaporation and leave the surface soil well 
 mulched. 
 
 Harvesting. Beans grown on light or unirrigated soils will ripen two or 
 three weeks earlier than on heavier or irrigated land. Usually the Lima crop 
 must be gathered before all the beans have ripened, because of the shelling of 
 the early maturing pods and the danger of rain. The bush varieties ripen more 
 evenly and are earlier in maturing. The vines are usually cut with the special 
 bean harvester, but on small plots may have to be pulled by hand. 
 
 Bean Improvement. The selection of the best individual plants in the field 
 is the most practical and satisfactory way of securing a better yielding strain of 
 beans. The first selection should be made at blossoming time, when the most 
 vigorous, early flowering plants will be noted and perhaps marked with a 
 stake. Frequent inspection of the vines should be made until harvest time. 
 Limas especially will be found to differ in rankness and vigor of growth; some 
 are heavily podded while others produce but few pods; many vines will be 
 green and possibly in full blossom while others will have matured their crop 
 and are drying up; some have withstood a bad season or an alkali soil better 
 than the rest and still others differ in the size and color of the seed. All of 
 these differences must be considered by the bean grower because the natural 
 law of heredity will tend to perpetuate these individual differences in the 
 offspring. It may require considerable thinking before club members can 
 decide which plants will be the best to save to furnish seed for next year's 
 planting. One thing that will probably be noticed is that the earliest maturing 
 vines are not apt to be the heaviest yielding ones, as earliness and prolificness 
 seem to be two conflicting characters. Contestants growing Lima beans should 
 look for the heaviest yielding vines and save that one which has produced the 
 greatest number of matured pods. 
 
 The seed from the highest-yielding vines should be saved and used to plant 
 a special seed-improvement plot next year. The best vines grown on this plot 
 
8 
 
 and improving the quality by selecting the most i)rolific vines and saving the 
 seed to plant special bean improvement plats another year. Incidentally, the 
 members of this club will strive to learn all they can regarding the science of soils 
 and plant growth and put this knowledge to practical use growing our beans. 
 
 Article III. MemhersMp. Any boy or girl in this school district, not over 
 eighteen or under eight years of age, is eligible for membership in this club. 
 Any adult person, interested in the club and its work, may be elected to 
 honorary membership by a majority vote of those members present at any 
 regular meeting. 
 
 Article IV. Officers. The officers of this organization shall consist of a 
 President, Vice-President and Secretary and an Advisory Committee, consisting 
 of the principal or teacher in the school, who shall act as chairman of the com- 
 mittee, the President of the club and one or more adults in the community not con- 
 nected directly with the school, but who are interested in the club and its work. 
 
 Article V. Duties of Members. In addition to the duties prescribed in the 
 rules, each member of the club shall attend all regular meetings and perform 
 such duties as may be assigned to him. Each member obligates himself to read 
 and partake in the discussion of all books, bulletins and articles pertaining to 
 bean growing, considered by the club. 
 
 Article VI Duties of Officers. The President shall preside at all meetings and 
 perform those duties that usually devolve upon such an officer. 
 
 The Vice-President, in the absence or disability of the President, shall act 
 as the presiding officer. 
 
 The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings and shall submit a report 
 at the end of the contest to the City or County Superintendent of Schools, 
 describing the club and its work and the results of the contest. 
 
 The Advisory Committee shall arrange for all public contests and exhibits, 
 the procuring and awarding of prizes and certificates, the sending of letters and 
 circulars of information, advise the club members with regard to their work, 
 assist in arranging the club programmes and meetings, and keep the general 
 public duly informed of the progress of the club 's work. The chairman of 
 the Advisory Committee shall have general oversight and direction of the club 
 and shall exercise authority in all cases not otherwise delegated. 
 
 Article VII. Begular Meetings. Eegular meetings of the club shall be held 
 on the first and third Friday of each month during the school year (or any 
 other time desired). At least one meeting a month should be held during 
 vacation (the time and date to be determined by the Advisory Committee). 
 The purpose of these meetings should be the systematic study of books, bulletins 
 and articles on bean growing and the discussion of those factors in the environ- 
 ment of plants that have direct bearing upon bean culture. It will be possible 
 for the teacher in these meetings to have the members perform simple exercises 
 with seeds, growing plants, and soils, or to demonstrate these before the club, 
 thus vitally connecting the school work with the outdoor and home work. 
 
 The First Work. After the constitution has been adopted and the officers 
 elected, the next step will be to determine the nature of the work to be under- 
 taken first. If the club is started in the winter months, a .study of some of the 
 books, bulletins and articles on bean growing would be taken up. This should 
 lead to something definite to be done in the spring and summer. After actual 
 work is started, the seasonal sequence of cultural operations will determine to 
 a large extent the nature of the discussion at the regular meetings.