Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-08
WHEN AND HOW
TOSOW SOY BEAN
nee Value and Fertilization
Place and Rotation of
Vegetables.

- plant. native Oh southedStern
80. and has been extensively culti-
-.,ad in Chan and Japan for many
,.,turies. In those countries II occu-
les an important place among human
,ood plants, supplying a large amount
:, easilydigested heterogeneous matter.
=. sdaptability to this country has
Zen amply demonstrated by expert
IAN, stations and practicing farmers
:. has come to stay. Its value as
..-ase crop and its wonderful effects
soil improver have given IL a Sc
- foot-hold on many farms in ILL
nois.
ON most Illinois soils the soy bean
IN generally give best results as a
ersin crop, though II is excellent as
eover crop for green manure for plow-
s-r under. as IT provides a large
snouut OF organic matter rich In nitro
"a, The demand for seed for plant
ING has, so far, taken up all the seed
.ss-ed on the market in this state,
- doubtless the rapid extension of
-. use of the crop will continue for
some wears longer TO keep up a strong
5snand for seed. AS a highly nitro
-e1ous feeding stuff for mixing with
corn for "hogging off," with corn as
. supplement, the crop has a value al
most II not quite. equal to its value
on the seed market
II must be clearly understood that
this crop can not thrive without food.
rs mineral food must come out OF the
soil and IL can not get nitrogen out of
the air unless IL is properly inoculat-
"a Soils which are naturally unpro-
ductive. or are badly run down by long
Years OF cropping without adequate re-
turns. can not be expected all at once
10 give wonderful crops Of soy beans.
However. with attention to drainage,
lining OF soil. and such applications
OF rock phosphate as the soil may
need. this crop will do better than al
most anything else on rundown land.
Wherever. organic matter and nitro
gen are lacking there is no quicker or
cheaper method of correction than
the use Of this plant.
In the corn belt generally. probably
the best place in a regular rotation IS
after corn. 4 good rotation consists
OF corn. soy beans, wheat and clover,
with soy beans again If clover fails.
With this rotation, only the mineral
elements OF plant food need be APP
Piled in order to maintain soil fertil-
fly.
Soy beans may be sown between the
corn rows at last cultivation with a
one-horse wheat drill. using the mid
die three hoes, although the shading
kr~ MIL --Fr- 1,a
same chance as when allowed full pos
session Of the ground after a small
grain crop.
For sowing after harvest on oat or
wheat stubbIe fields where clover has
not been sown or has failed, or after
early potatoes, and as an orchard COW
er crop, soy beans can not be too
highly recommended. For this pur-
pose the seed may be drilled solid at
the rate OF TO Is bushels per acre af-
ter double disking and narrowing or
blowing and narrowing the stubble
ground
For full crop. the best time to SOW
Is when the ground is thoroughly
warm in spring, or Immediately after
the best time to plant corn, although
the earlier varieties may be sown some
weeks later and still have time to ma
ture- As a cover crop which may be
pastured in fall or plowed under, soy
beans may be sown after a summer
harvested crop even as late as the end
OF July and still make profitable
growth.
Whether to plant in rows for cult
Vation or drill solid without subse-
quent cultivation Is a matter for the
Individual farmer to determine accord
ing to his particular conditions. In
painting for cultivation the rows may
Dc "A TO 40 inches apart. Rows Sc
nehes apart can be easily cultivated
Win a two-horse cultivator. The clos
er spacing Of rows is preferable for
nay production and under favorable
eonoitions drilling solid may be best
ior this purpose. AS a cover crop sown
L2ter In season, seed should be drilled
soho at the rate Of at least a bushel
per acre.
Inc wheat drill is the most conven-
tent implement for seeding. For drill
nag solid, the drill should be set from
% 10 ? bushels OF oats per acre. which
VII require from Is bushels of seed
ues- For drilling in rows the drill
should be set for 2 to rs bushels OF
osts per acre. according to spacing.
which will require about IS to 30
Doends OF seed per acre.
"hen intended to use as hay, the
10Y bean should be cut soon after the
poos are about half developed IL left
noen later the stems become quite
-oooy and inferior in feeding quality.
me method OF haymaking is not radi-
ANY different from that used with clio
er. but the curing process takes a
niue more time. In bright weather
ene crop may be moved one day. wind
owed the next. turned the third day
1Ao put up in small cocks. where IL
sAould partially cure before putting
.n'o the barn or stack two or three
days later.
when harvesting for seed the most
s1tsfaotOry method is 20 cut the crop