The advocate., 1897-10-20
The Soy Bean,


Is leguminous plant, native Of south
eastern Asia. De Candolle says that it
originally occurred in the wild state in
the region from Cochin China to the
south Of Japan and to Java" It has
been cultivated from very ancient times,
and in some countries, notably Japan,
1t is very important food plant, and
its cultivation has reached such an ad-
Vanced stage that innumerable varieties
and forms have been developed.
In our own country soy bean has been
grown for great many years, chiefly
in the South, but it is only within the
last fifteen years that it has received
much attention as a forage crop. Re-
Gently it has been the subject of con-
siderable experimentation at number
Of the experiment stations, and its great
value as a crop has been very clearly
demonstrated.
The term "soy" applied to this bean is
derived from Japanese word "shoyu,"
denoting certain preparation from the
seeds which is favorite article Of diet
in that country.
Professor Georgeson has obtained
fairly good results in Kansas on very
poor soils, and under very adverse con-
dltions as to moisture. In South Caro-
lima the soy bean gives excellent crops
on sandy, limestone, or marly soils, and
also on drained swamp or peaty lands
that are we'll marled. Experiments in
both Europe and America show that the
soy bean possesses excellent drought
resisting qualities, enduring dry weather
much better than the ordinary field or
garden beans.
In general way, the same methods
of culture may be recommended for the
soy bean as would be given to the ordi-
nary field beans. The soil should be
we'll prepared, so as to afford a good
root bed, and should be left smooth
and free from clods in order to facilitate
the cultivation and harvesting of the
crop If the soil is lacking in potash
and phosphoric acid, these should be
supplied to secure the best results. From
experiments carried on at the Massa-
chusetts Hatch Experiment Station, it
Is probable that for this crop the potash
can be best supplied in the form of the
muriate. Under ordinary conditions it
is not likely that there will be anynecces-
slty for using any nitrogen-containing
fertilizer, as sufficient of this element
is usually present in the soil, and, like
other legumes, this plant assimilates the
free nitrogen of the air. In experiments
with this crop where nitrogen has been
supplied to the soil in various forms it
has been found that there was but very
little gain in the yield, and in but few
instances was this sufficient to pay for
the extra fertilizer used.
Although soy beans may be planted
quite early in the season, the best re-
suits will be obtained If the seeding is
postponed until the ground has become
thoroughly warm; and in case the earlier
varieties are used, fairly good crop of
forage or even of seed may be obtained
il the seeds are not planted until the
earlier grains, such as rye and barley,
have been harvested. 1t may thus be
possible to obtain two crops from the
same field in single season; one of
small grain, and the other of soy bean,
and yet to leave the land in better con-
dition than if the second crop had not
been grown. Another practice is to drill
the beans in between the rows of corn
after the last plowing; they are also
sometimes planted between the hills of
corn, as are field beans. The best
method of seeding will depend somewhat
upon the kind of crop which 1t is desired
to harvest. II the soil is good, and
crop of hay or green fodder is desired,
good results may be obtained by sowing
broadcast or with grain drill. If, how
ever, a crop Of beans is desired, it is
best to plant In drills from two to three