The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-06
SOY BEAN AS A FORAGE CROP.

some countries, notably Japan 1t is ve4,y important food plant and Its cul- tivation has reached such an advanced stage that innumerable varieties have been developed. Prof. Rein save that 1t is the most important legume in extent of varieties, uses and value, grown in China or Japan. It Is supposed to have been used for food in China even before the time of Confuscius. Although 1t has been grown In China and Japan for such an extended period, It's cultivation seems to have spread very slowly to the sur rounding countries. Its introduction into India seems to have taken place in com paratively modern times More recently 1t was brought to Europe. where 1t was grown in botanic gardens for more than a hundred years without attracting at tention as a plant of much economic im- portande. Alton says in his Hortus Kewensis that it was first brought to England in 1790. In 1875 Professor Hab- erladt began an extensive series of ex- periments with this plant in Austro Hun gary, and in a work published in 1878 he gave the results of his studies and strongly urged the cultivation of the soy bean as a food plant for both man and beast. Although he succeeded in exciting a great deal of interest In It's cultivation while making his experiments, and dis tributed a considerable amount of seed very llttle beeInS to nave cOlie ol it, loA at his death, which occurred in 1878, the interest Jagged and the soy bean has failed to obtain the place as staple crop which he prophesied for it.
 In our own country the soy bean has been grown for a great many years, chiefly In the south, but it is only within the past fifteen years that 1t has received much attention as a forage crop. Re- gently 1t has been the subject of consider II. .-i., aa.atc at inc experiment stations, and its great value as a crop has been very clearly demon strated.
 The term ''soy" applied to this bean is derived from Japanese word shoyu denoting a certain preparation from seeds which is a favorite article of diet in that country The term "soja" is often used In connection with this plant. but Professor Georgeson who spent some time in Japan, and who, since his return has experimented extensively with this plant, says:
 'eThe term sofa applied to this bean is misleading inasmuch as the species nam- ed by Seibold and Zuccarlni Glycine sofa is not cultivated there (Japan) or at least rarely cultivated, though wild in the south; and later this species was con- founded with the cultivated species, Glycne Hispida Moench. whence the ori- gin of the term sofa, as applied to the cultivated bean"
 Recent work on Japanese botany seem to substantiate this position though 1t is still a matter of doubt as to what bot. anical name properly belongs to the cul- tivated species.
 The soy bean is an erect, annual plant, with branching hairy stems, trifoliate, more or less hairy leaves, rather incon- spicious pale lilac or violet colored flow CTS. and broad two to five seeded pods, covered like the stem with reddish hairs. the seeds vary in color from whitish and yellowish to green brown and black, and in shape from spherical to elliptical and more or less compressed. Under favor able conditions the plant may reach height of four feet or more. In Professor Haberlandt's experiments In Austro Hun gary the plants bore about 200 hundred pods and 450 seeds each. and though this is probably considered above the average, 1t shows them to be remarkably pro- life. ,e s
 The fact that the flowers are self pol linated makes the yield entirely in- dependent of insects, and renders the soy bean free from an important obstacle in the way of the introduction of many legumes into new regions. A crop of seed Is insured wherever conditions are such as to allow the plants to make the
 or vegetative growth and reach ma turity.
 Varieties.
 The different varieties of the soy bean are distinguished largely according to the color. size and shape of the seed, and the time required for the plant to reach ma turity. They also differ more or less in the habit of growth and in the character and degree of the hairiness of the various parts of the plant. The names applied to the varieties here in the United States l1p to na of ma U and the color of the seed, as. for example Early White, "Medium Late, Green" Medium Black, etc. The early varieties. generally fruit heavier in proportion to the size of the plant than the later ones, and hence are better to grow for seed while the medium or late varieties are better for forage on account of the larger yield of fodder that may be obtained.
 The Early White" soy bean is an ex- celent variety to grow when a crop of seed is desired particularly In the north. where the growing season is likely to be short. It Is not good variety to grow for hay or soiling however. on account of the small size of the plants and tendency to drop the leaves early Med ium Early Green, Medium Early BlaclS'', or the Late green or black varieties may be used according to the length of the season and the time at which the crop is to be used. Tn the New England States the Medium Green Is generally preferred while in the Central States Medium Early Black" seems to be the favorite. In the south the Medium" or Late varieties are used. some prefer ring one and some another. For green manuring the large medium or late varie- ties are best; Medium Late Black being excellent for this purpose.
 It is believed in Japan that in northern climates, soils of a rather strong charac- ter are best adapted to the soy bean. It Is usually sown about the end of May, and when used for hay Is cut early In August. In both Europe and America it has been found to thrive best on soils of medium texture that are well supplied with potash phosphoric acid and llme It succeeds very well. however, on compara- lively light soils. often giving an abund- mt crop on soils too poor to grow clover. Professor Haberlandt found that good re- suits could be obtained in Europe on a great variety of soils. and similar re- suits have been obtained in the United States. Professor Georgeson has obtain ed fairly good results In Kansas on very poor soils, and under very adverse condi- tions as to moisture. In South Carolina the soy bean gives excellent crops on sandy limestone or mari soils, and also on drained swamped or peaty lands that are well marled Experiments in both Europe and America show that the soy bean possesses excellent drought resist ing qualities, enduring dry weather much better than the ordinary field or garden bean.