The Ozark spectator., 1917-05-16
FEEDING THE ARMY
 A PATRIOTIC DUTY
The Nation Needs Food and Forage Crops-Farmers Should Plant Plen-
 tifuIly of All the Food Crops.
L. W. Osborn, Agricultural Experi. ment Station, University of
 Arkansas

ment Statlon, university or
 Arkansas.
 Remember. Mir Farmer. that In trIs national crisis you are expected to raise enough food and feed to take care of your family and the livestock on your farm. In making your plans you should raise the crops which will give you the great est returns per acre not only in money, but in food value. Do not forget to plant such crops as corn. oowpeas, soy beans, velvet beans, pea nuts, Sudan grass, sorghum, etc. At this time it will pay you to give par ticular attention to the soy bean
 sey Bean Has Many Uses.
 AS . marketable crop the possibilk ties of the soy bean are immense. The forage, when cut as the pods are vel. formed. Is palatable and nutritious for all classes of live stock. It is well known that the supply of linseed oil, which in the pas. has been tho chief oil used in paint manufa cture. is limited and variable. Soy bean oil can be substituted either expensive oils in the manufacture of paints, enamels, varnishes and soap.. The oil can also be used to make edi- ble salad oil and as butter substi- ute. The soy bean meal which is the by-product from the seed after the oil is expressed, can be used for fertilix- CTS or as concentrate to feed live stock or for flour to use for human consumption. Spy bean meal contains even more protein than is found in cotton seed meal
 Adapted te Many Soils and
 Conditions.
 The soy bean is legume and conse- quenuy when grown upon a properly inocalated soil will increase the nitro gen content of the soil. At the same time the crop is a convenient one to place in . crop rotation. It grows and thrives during the hottest sum mer weather It is well adapted to various types of soils and con ditions. and different varieties arc successfully grown under the same climatic conditions as corn.
 Seed Bed Should Be Well Prepared.
 The sesd bed should be well pre- pared for soy bean seed and can be sown any time after severe frosts are over until about July l. Earlier seed ings usually produce a heavier growth of foliage and require a longer growing season. Even the later varieties show marked ability to adjust themselves to . shortened growing season when seeded late.
 Beet Varietiss Fo~ Seed Production.
 Variety of soy beans vary in time of maturity, in color and size of seod and in growth characteristics. Nu- merous varieties are in existence, but only about fifteen are handled com nercially by seeds men, The following are among the more important varie- ties especially suitable for seed pro- duction
 Mammoth Yellow soy bean is standard mmercial variety grown more extensively than any other in Arkansas. The variety yields we'll of both grain and forage. It is one of the latest varieties in time of ma. turfty.
 The Habelandt soy bean is similar in appearance of seed but Is some what earlier than Mammoth The va riety is satisfactory for grain produc- ton, but does not produce as luxur. iant a growth for hay. It is advisa- ble where an earlier variety than Mammoth is desired
 There are other varieties which are very suitable for seed and forage pro. duction, but which are not SO com nonlv grown Certain varieties. such as the Virginia. Arlington. Wilson aud Picking produce plants with some what finer stems than the Mammoth and are an advantage for forage pro- duction
 Care Must De Taken in Harvesting
 Soy beans are best fitted for hay grown for grain alone. the cutting may be delayed in the case of most varieties until all of the leaves havo fallen. Care must be taken to har. vest before the pods begin to bursG
 In storing soy beans after thresh. ing. the beans should he spread out and not massed in large quantities Soy beans will heat rather easily if not thoroughly dry, and the germina ton will be ruined
 A Good Market For the Soy Bean
 In addition to being a good war measure. remember that 1t will pay to consider the soy bean as 8 permanent money crop since 1t has been found that cotton seed oil mills can be ad justed without much trouble to use soy beans. Different investigators TO- port that only few minor and inex- pensive changes in equipment are necessary.
 Cotton seed oil mills in Arkansas will m hnuht waInnnna a,,