The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-01-15
THE SOY BEAN
Thrives in United States--0f Importance
as Source of Oil, Food Products,
and Fertilizer.

The soy bean, which has reached a
Asia and Europe as a material from
which foodstuffs, cattle feed, fertilizer
and oil suitable for a variety of uses may
be manufactured, should become increas-
| ingly important in the United States to
| both farmers and manufacturers. While
! the bean may be grown throughout the
! humid and semi humid sections of the
South and in the southern portion of the
corn belt. it thrives especially well in the
cotton growing regions. For this reason,
according to recent publication OF the
United States department of agriculture,
department bulletin 439 it offers an ex-
cellent opportunity to the cotton planter
for adjusting his farm plans to offset the
damage to cotton inflicted by the boil
weevil. On the other hand, since a val
liable oil may be pressed from the beans
in cottonseed oil mills, and since boil
weevil activities tend TO lessen cotton
seed production. the growing OF soy beans
in the South should greatly interest the
owners Of oil mills. The production Of
soy beans in considerable quantities may,
in fact. be needed in some seasons to
keep the expensive equipment Of the
mills operating profitably.
From the farmers point Of view the
existence of the many oil mills in the
South and the probability that by fur
nishing a demand for soy beans these
concerns will make the leglme an inn
portant cash crop should greatly facili-
tate the introduction of the new product
on commercial scale. Soy beans should |
be of additional interest to farmers,
since, as in the case of other legumes, |
their culture improves the soil. If sus- |
tanned demand for them can be built up, !
therefore, soy beans can be introduced
into a rotation with cot
ton, furnishing at the same time sec
ond important cash product and a soil
crop.
Development of Industry Begun.
The recognition of the possibilities OF
about the production OF soy
beans on a commercial basis in the South
IS not based only on the economic i'm
portsnce of the crop in Asia, where It's
production on large scale has been es-
tablished for many years, or on the es-
tablished market for the beans practical
" throughout Europe. Soy beans have
been grown for forage in this country tor
many years, and their adaptability TO a
vide range of climatic and soil conditions
las been fully demonstrated. In recent
years the crop has been grown TO an in
,reasing extent for its seeds IN eastern
North Carolina. A large production OF
he beans in this section in 1913, together
With the occurrence of a cottonseed short
ige. led to the experimental pressing OF
considerable quantity of beans by local
Ill mills. These experiments were en-
irely satisfactory. and the mills partici-
,ating in them are now taking an active
,art in the development of this new in
lustry with American grown beans. OH
Mills on the Pacific coast have been op-
rating for several wears with soy beans
from Manchuria and have found $
ready sale in this region for the oil.
axe and other products.
Culture of the Soy Bean.
The soy bean can be grown success c
ully on nearly all types Of soil and has :
bout the same range OF climatic adap-
alton as varieties Of corn The growing &
nd handling of the beans are accom- S
lished almost entirely by machinery in {
his country. the ordinary farm equip y
rent meeting all the requirements of the d
rop. In large bean growing districts U
pecial harvesters for gathering the seed
the field are used quite successfully. &
he cost Of production varies from 500 !
, SIP per acre. depending on the meth II
Is employed in growing and handling i,
he crop. The market price per bushel 81 I.
ed for sowing purposes varies IN differ =
II sections, ranging from a IN large
ed -prcducuing sections Of the south To
, and 50 per bushel in the central and
iddle Atlantic states. Yields Of seeds y
the acre IN various sections OF the =
nited States range from about - bush =.
= of 90 pounds each in the northern !, =