A series of eigth experiments were carried out at la Selva ICA's Experiment Station, located at Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia at 2.100 m.s.n.m. between 1986 and 1987. The objetive was to determine a new methodology for the evaluation of F5 bean (Phaseolus vulgaris l.) lines in relay intercropped planted with maize (Zeamsys l.) It was found, for advanced lines, that one hill-plots (0.84 m-2) were not useful for detecting significant differences, but for F5 materials it was found that 4 replicates allowed to detect differences. The aboye result for F5 lines will permit to save 77 .8% of the area normally used in such works, i.e. by employing 6 hill plots and 3 replicates.