The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1915-06-04

AS hay, as a pasture plant, as en-
siIage with corn, as a green manure
crop, and as human food-m all
these ways the soy bean is valuable
to the southern farmer. In general 1t
may be said that it 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 extensive Gull
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 it, and its
freedom from insect enemies and
plant diseases, should all encourage
its planting.
The soy bean is an erect, rather
hairy leguminous plant which resem-
bIo5 somewhat the common field or
navy bean. 1t is also called the sofa
bean and the Manchurian bean and in
China and Japan is grown extensively
for human food as we'll as 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
tanned 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 a 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 a well-drained soil, although a
soil where water stands for a consid-
cradle length Of time is not desirable
1t is able to withstand a greater
amount of moisture, however, than
either cowpeas or corn. The soy bean
is also decidedly drought resistant;
much more so than the COWpea.
Soil Preparation.
Soy beans succeed best on a thor
oughly prepared soil. The land should
be plowed early and deep, fitted, and
then narrowed at intervals until the
beans are planted. The young plants
OF soy beans are not able to push
their way through a hard crust as are
corn and cowpeas. Thus, to insure a
good stand, the seed should have a
light covering of loose, mellow soil
The use of commercial fertilizers
is recommended where sandy soil pre-
dominates or the soil is of low fertil-
ity. Where fertilizers are used good
results have been obtained by using
a dressing of stable manure or 200 to
300 pounds Of acid phosphate and 100
pounds Of muriate Of potash. In u.s.
ing the commercial fertilizer it is well
to apply broadcast before the beans
are planted. Lime has been found
almost invariably to increase the
yield.
incubation.
Soy beans, like other legumes,
when we'll inoculated add much nitro
gen to the soil. Natural incubation
now occurs quite generally through
out the soy bean region in the south
ern United States. In localities where
the crop has not been previously
grown, however, it is advisable to in
oculate. incubation may be most
certainly secured by applying soil
from an old soy bean field, using 800
to 500 pounds Of soil to the acre, or
by busting the seed with such soil
before sowing.
Seeding and Cultivation.
Soy beans may be sown at any
time after danger of severe frosts is
over, ranging from early spring until
midsummer, In the cotton region
two crops of the early and medium
early varieties can be grown in sin
gle season by planting the first early,
AS a rule, however, the late varieties
are preferable in the South and should
be planted about the same time as
corn.
Soy beans are grown either in cul-
tlvated rows or broadcasted, depending
on the purpose for which they are
grown. The row method is prefer
able in weedy land and usually gives
larger yields of hay and practically
always of seed. The general practice
for seed production is the row meth
cd, so to 4S inches apart. For nay,
soiling, or green manure drilled or
broadcasted crop furnishes finer
quality Of forage. In rows, from 20
to 80 pounds of seed to the acre are
required; when sown broadcast or
drilled with an ordinary grain drill
By covering the feed cups not in use
The distance between rows can be ad,
1usted as desired. The cotton planter
has also been found satisfactory for
use in planting large fields. For
small fields the ordinary garden drill