You probably refer to the “yard-long” pole bean.  It is a world variety and may have come to California from China as you suggest, but it has also been well known for generations in Europe and was brought thence to the Eastern States at some early date.  It is generally accounted as an unimportant species and certainly has not risen to commercial account in California.  The beans are edible and the whole plant available for stock feeding, but there is no doubt but that the growth of some of the cowpeas would be preferable as a summer field crop for hog pasture.

Why the Beans are Waiting.

Can you tell me why pink beans which were planted early in Merced county, irrigated four times, hoed four times and cultivated, have no beans on them?  The vines look finely.

Probably because you had too much hot, dry wind at the blooming.  This is one of the most frequent troubles with beans in the hot valley, but the pink bean resists it better than other varieties.  As the heat moderates you are likely to get blossoms which will come through and form pods, and then the crop will depend upon how long frost is postponed.  You have also treated the plants a little too well with water and cultivation.  You had better let them feel the pinch of poverty a little now; they will be more likely to go to work.

Blackeye Beans.

What is the best way to prepare land for Black-eye beans?  How much seed is required per acre, and what is the estimated cost of growing them?  The soil is a well-drained clay loam.

The cost of growing is not particularly different from other beans, and will vary, of course, according to the capacity and efficiency of the plows, harrows, teams, tractors, men, etc.  Every man has to figure that according to his conditions and methods of turning and fining the land.  Sow 40 pounds per acre in drills 3 feet apart, and cultivate as long as you can without injuring the vines too much.  Sowing must of course be done late, after the ground is warm and danger of frost is past, though the plowing and harrowing should be done earlier than that.

Blackeye Beans are Cow Peas.

I sent for some Blackeye cow peas; they look like Blackeye beans.  Am sending you a sample of what I got.  What are they?

Yes, they are in the cow pea group, but there are other cow peas which would not be recognized as having any relation to them.  All cow peas are, however, beans, and they have not much use for frost.  They are not hardy like the true pea group.

Growing Horse Beans.

Does the soil need to be inoculated for horse beans?  I intend to plant five acres about January 1, on the valley border in Placer county and they get heavy frost in the morning.  Does frost hurt them?  How shall I plant them?