Field and Horse Beans.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 17 July 1912, Page 4

Field and Horse Beans.

A crop, says Mr T. W. Lonsdale in the Journal of Department of Agriculture, which has received less attention than it merits in many parts of the Dominion is the common field-bean. This legume is used largely in England ior stock-feeding, and takes a prominent place in the rations of draught horses. Being rich in portein beans are especially suitable for this purpose, and a combination of beans and oats forms ideal food for horses which are daily performing heavy work. As a result of feeding-cxp3ri-ments with horses in America it was found that 3.5 Ib. of beans are epuivalent to 4lb. oats, and from this we may safely infer that the crop is worthy of consideration. The field bean is not only useful as food for horses, but is almost equally valuable for other animals.

Like all legumes, it is a soil-renova-tor, as it adds materially to the nitrogen^content of the soil. The bacterial development which appears on the roots of the plant prove conclusively its value iv this respect. The crop is regarded in many countries as a clean - iag or prepartory crop, and is frequent* ly grown on the most weedy portions of the holding, invariably leaving t he land in an improved condition.

When sown on the flat field-beans can bo cut with the binder. The stooks may remain in the field for an indefinite period, the crop being easily threshed from the stook. Should climatic conditions make harvesting impossible the crop may bo advantages ously consumed ou the land by pigs, or converted into ensilage, and is also valuable as green manure.