Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-06-18
SOY BEAN PLANT IS VALUABLE IN SOUTH

Tick-Free Jersey ,
prepared by the u 8. Department OF Az
| riculture.)
AS nay. as q pasture plant, as en-.
silage with corn, as a green manure
crop. and as q human food-in all
these ways the soy bean is valuable
TO the southern farmer. In general 1t
may be said that 1t will succeed in the
United States wherever corn or cot
ton Is cultivated. but It Is especially
adapted to the cotton belt where the
later and larger varieties, which give
yields that make their exsshslys cul.
tivation profitable, can be grown. No
special labor or machinery Is neces-
sary and the ordinary farm equipment
Will meet all the requirements of the
crop. The high yield Of seed, the ex-
cellent quality of its forage. the ease
OF growing and harvesting 1t, and its
freedom from insect enemies and
plant diseases, should all encourage
its planting.
The soy bean IL an erect, rather
hairy leguminous plant which resem-
bles somewhat the common field or
navy bean. 1t Is also called the sofa
bean and the Manchurian bean and in
China and Japan il grown extensively
Tor human food a. well a. for forage
and green manure. As an article Of
human food its use should increase
In this country also, for It can be util-
lied In many different ways. Excel.
lent results have likewise been OBJ
tained when the seed or meal has
been substituted in the feeding ration
for cottonseed or oil meal
The soil requirements Of soy beans
are quite similar to those Of corn. but
the plants will make Q satisfactory
growth on poorer soil than corn. The
best results. perhaps. are obtained on
medium loans. although clay and
sandy soils may be made to produce
good crops The soy bean does not
require q well-drained soil. although .
soil where water stands for q consid-
cradle length Of time IL not desirable.
It 10 able to Withstand q greater
amount Of moisture, however. than
either cowpeas or corn. The soy bean
ID also decidedly drought resistant:
much more 30 than the cowpea
Soil Preparation.
Soy beans succeed best ON Q thor
oughly prepared soil. The land should
be plowed early and deep. fitted, and
hen narrowed at intervals until tho
beans are planted. The young plants |
II soy beans are not able to push |
heir way through q hard crust a are
,orn and cowpeas. Thus. to insure .
good stand, the seed should have q
light covering Of loose, mellow soil.
The use of commercial fertilizers
. recommended where sandy soil pre-
dominates or the soil II Of low fertil.
ty. Where fertilizers are used good
'esults have been obtained BY using
J dressing Of stable manure or 200 to
100 pounds Of acid phosphate and 100
'ounds Of muriate Of potash. In NJ
ng the commercial fertilizer It IL well
o apply broadcast before the beans
re planted. Lime has been found
lmost invariably to increase the
teld.
incubation.
soy beans, like other legumes,
7hen well inoculated add much nitro
en- to the soil. Natural incubation
ow occurs quite generally through.
ut the soy bean region in the south
IN United States. In localities where
be crop has not been previously
rown. however. It Is advisable to in.
culate. incubation may be most
ertainly secured by applying soil
rom an old soy bean field, using 800
, 500 pounds Of soil to the acre. or
, busting the seed with such soil
efore sowing. II
Seeding and Cultivation.
Soy beans may be sown at any
me after danger of severe frosts 10
yer. ranging from early spring until
Midsummer. In the cotton region
70 crops Of the early and medium
ariy varieties can be grown in a sim
. season BY. planting the first early.
. a rule. however. the late varieties
re preferable in the South and should
, planted about the same time AZ
nm.
Soy beans are grown either In cul.
yated rows or broadcasted, depending
, the purpose for which they are
own. The row method Is prefer.
de in weedy land and usually gives
rger yields of hay and practically Z
ways Of seed. The general practice 4
r seed production is the row meth.
|, 30 to 4S inches apart For hay, {
'iling, or green manure a drilled or 9
crop furnishes q finer {