The farmer and mechanic., 1915-08-31

However, if the seed are to be mar
vested with one Of the bean harvesters
that are now on the market, the seeo
will have to be thoroughly ripe be-
fore the machine is put into the neld
When cutting pants that are 10 pe
sent through a thrasher later, 1t
should take place when they are
slightly moist with dew. The cutting
can usually be done satisfactorily
with an ordinary mowing-machine
with side-delivery adjustment, or
with a self-rake reaper or binder.
Where the acreage is small, frequent
ly the plants are pulled or cut with
scythe. The thrashing may be done
with fail, pea-hullerS, or with grain
thraShing machines after some simple
adjustments have been made. It will
be an advantage to have a slight dew
on the plants before attempting to
handle in thrashing as the splitting of
the seed will be materially leSSened-
Thrashing should be done if possible
in the field, and with as little han
ding of the vines as conditions Will
permit Soy beans ordinarily produce
more seed per acre than do coWpeaS.
From IS to 40 bushels per acre are
generally secured. the average rang
ing from 20 to 80 bushels when the
beans are grown under favorable con-
ditions. AS the seed spoil easily, they
should not be stored in bulk after
| thrashing. but be put in loosely woven
| bags that will admit a free cirCula-
| ton of air through them, or else be
spread in a thin layer over the barn
| floor The seed of the soy bean, un-
| like those OF the Cowpea, are rarely
| attacked by Weevil or other grain in
| SectS.
Soy beans possess very high value
| for soil improving purposes, but they
| do not seem to leave the soil in as
| good condition when removed as do
| cOWpeas and the clOvers. 1t has been
| estimated that the value of the fertil-
! izing constituents contained in crop
| Of soy beans applied to the soil as
green manure, is $2.44 per ton. AS
| from six to ten tons of green matter
| will be produced, it will be seen what
| great value this crop possesses for soil
Improvement Soy beanshay, on an
average, contains PAS per cent Of
nitrogen; 0.40 per cent phOsphorlc
acid and 1872 per cent potash, which
at the commercial prices Of these
constituents usually prevailing in the
State would make the fertilizing value
of a ton of soybean hay $12.10. Soy
bean seed contain $50 per cent nitro
gen; 1.S7 per cent phosphoric acid
and 1.99 per cent potash. When the
same valuations are assigned to these
| constituents that have to be- paid fol
them in commercial fertilizers each
bushel of soybeans will be found t
: contain IS cents worth Of fertility.
Soy Beans for Soiling Purposes.
The Importance of the soy bean a.
: soiling crop is becoming more gen
orally recognized by stockmen an(
dairyment. They have high feedin,
5 value and generally produce good re
suits when fed properly. BY plantin!
= at different dates, succession Q
Io f0
six to eight weeks during the latte
part Of the summer and early fall
When the crop has become we'll es
u u tablished, it grows well durin
q drought and may come on when othe
! ! crops have wilted and died. The
q have been found in soiling purposes t
J be superior to mixture Of oats an
IS soil, ten tons of green succulent, ric
feed should be secured per acre.
e desired, this crop may be put into tn
y silo. For this purpose it is general
= combined with corn as it does nc
y seem to do well in the silo alone a
II with corn this trouble does not seer
q to develop. For silage. the plar
r. should be cut as soon as the pods al
we'll developed but before they al
e ripe however. For soiling purpose
2, the cutting should begin at fowerin
II and may continue until the pods al
IS three-Quarters grown. In putting sc
IL beans into the silo, they should
le arranged in alternate layers wit
a some crop like corn making the cor
Oh layers double thickness
a. Soy Beans for Pasturage.
v This crop is rich in protein and {
t particularly suited for pasturing no,
~ especially when the peas are grow
c. for soil improvement. When II
De plants are young and tender, the hoi
TX will practically eat the whole of tt
,s plant, but after they become matu,
X and hard and woody thew will not
as eaten SO RAPIDLY, By planting Il
ne same variety at different dates, or
es using varieties Of different dates
ke maturity the grazing may be extendt
e over a considerable period. The gra
II ing, however, should not ordinari
ey begin until after the pods have fair