The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1915-05-28
soy BEAN PLANT IS VALUABLE IN SOUTH

Tick-Free Jersey G;
prepared by the US Department OF Az
~riculture.)
As hay. rs a pasture plant, as en- |
silage with corn, as a green manure
crop, and as q human f0od-in ALI
these way 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 1t is especially
adapted to the cotton belt where the
later and larger varieties, which give
yields that make their extensive 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 it, and its
freedom from insect enemies and
plant diseases, should all encourage
It's planting.
The soy bean is 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 is grown extensively
for human food as well as for forage
and green n AS an article OF
human food it's use should increase
In this country also, for it can be utli-
lied in many different ways. Excel
lent results have likewise been OBJ
tanned when the seed Or meal has
hoon substituted In tho 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 thar 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 welldrained soil, although a
soil where water stands for a consld-
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 q
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 te
800 pounds of acid phosphate and LOT
pounds of muriate of potash. In US
ing the commercial fertilizer it Is vel
to apply broadcast before the bean:
are planted. Lime has been fount
almost invariably to increase thu
yield. T
incubation.
soy beans, like other legumes
when we'll inoculated add much nitro
gen to the soil. Natural inoculatior
now occurs quite generally through
OuC JuS SOy OCoA AC6AOA III IAO Jul
ern United States. In localities whers
the crop has not been previousl.
grown, however, II" Is advisable to In
oculate. incubation may be mos
certainly secured by applying sol
from an old soy bean field, using 30'
to 500 pounds of soil to the acre, O
by busting the seed with such sol
before sowing.
Seeding and Cultivation.
Soy beans may be soVn at an,
time after danger of severe frosts /
over, ranging from early spring unit
midsummer. In the cotton regio
two crops of the early and medium
early varieties a be grown in a sir
gle season by planting the first earl,
AS a rule, however, the late varietie
are preferable in the South and shout
he planted about the same time q
corr.
Sow beans are grown either In Gu
tivated rows or broadcasted, dependin
on the purpose for which they al
grown. The row method Is prefe
able in weedy land and usually give
larger yields of hay and practical
always Of seed. The general practie
for seed production Is the row met
cd. 30 to 48 inches apart. For ~ha
selling. or green manure a drilled I
broadcasted crop furnishes q hne
quality Of forage. In rows. J
DODDER Is SERIOUS MENAc