Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-07-09
HAVE YOU PLANTED
SOY BEANS WITH
YOUR CORN?
If Not, Be Sure to Plant q Crop
of Them Before Mid
Summer.

clemson College.-The farmers of
the southeastern states have not vet
come to appreciate the value of soy.
beans, as soil improver, as a food
Tor man, or as feed for animals, SAYS
fror. Gilbeart H. Ceilings, Of the
Agronomy Division. The soybean is
one OF the most promising legumes of
the South, and surely the South needs
20 grow legumes more than any other
group Of plants. In order that the
southern farmer may secure larger
and more profitable yields, the nitro
gen and the organic matter OF the
soil must be built up This can be
done prof1tably only through the use
OF legumes In our rotations.
The soybear. sometimes called the
SOFA bean, soya bean. or stock pea,
was introduced into this country from
Japan during the latter part Of the
twentieth century. Altho 1t is not a
native, the soil and climatic conditions
OF the southeastern states are ideal
fox Its development. 1t is an annual
plant OF upright growth, producing
large yields Of both hay and grain.
AT the present time soybeans are
more profitable to the average farmer
than peanuts, and when used to turn
under are equal pound per pound of
organic matter and nitrogen to cow
peas, vetch, and other legumes. They
are better yielders than cowpea>
when planted in rows and cultivated.
They grow earlier in the spring and
later in the fall and are more resist
drntphf nd %ho,
cowpeas.
AS grazing crop for hogs soybeans
are among the best. AS a hay crop.
altho somewhat coarse. they are much
relished by livestock. The feeding
value OF the hay compares very fav.
orably with alfalfa hay. AS green
manuring crop they add both organic
matter and nitrogen to the soil. A
test conducted by the Connecticut
Agricultural Experiment Station
found that from 100 to 1876 pounds Of
nitrogen was returned to the soil each
year when the crop was used for this
purpose.
There is an ever increasing demand
for the seed. which are now being
used for large variety OF purposes.
One Of the principal demands comes
from the oil mills. The soybean seed
are very rich in oil. one bushel yield.
ing on an average one gallon OF oil
when pressed. For these reasons the
acreage planted to soybeans each
year is steadily increasing and should
continue TO increase for some consid.
cradle time to come.
The preparation Of the seed bed
is the same as the preparation
Of the seed bed for cotton. How.
ever a thorough preparation must be
emphasized, for by giving the plants
a good start long step has been
made toward the successful produc.
tion Of the crop. The plant reacts
readily to fertilizers, especially to the
application OF phosphatic fertilizers.
Some potassium can be applied profit.
ably in the Coastal Plain, but nitro.
gen need not be applied either In the
Piedmont Plateau or the Coastal
Plain.
Soybeans should always be planted
In rows. whether they are grown for
seed or for hay. The rows should be
30 to 80 inches apart. depending upon
iety grown. The seed should be
planted just as cotton or corn. An
ordinary corn planter can be used
very successfully for this purpose.
About 25 to 35 pounds OF medium size
seed should be planted per ace. In
planting, however. the. seed should not
be planted deeper than two inches and
under normal conditions not deeper
than one and one-half inches.
Soybeana may he planted any time
from early spring until midsummer.
For a grain crop they should be
planted early. but for hay, pasture.
green-manure. or soiling crop the"
may be planted as late as August 1st
Cultivation should begin as soon as
the young seed are above the ground.
One deep cultivation Is advised. bnt
after that the civilizations should he
shallow. Level cultivation Is recon-.
mended, because harvesting is thus
greatly aided.
About 10 to 30 bushels OF grain and
to 6 tons OF hay will be produced
per acre. depending upon the variety
OF bean. the climatic conditions. the
IGrCillty Oh tnS SOL. anu lle culllF:''
tion received. The vines are cut witN
a mower or reaper. and shocked in tho
field to dry. The curing Is similar to
the curing OF cowpea hay. The beans
may be thrashed ont with an ordin
airy thrasi,ing machine. or they NAV
be thrashed from the stalk by special
ly prepared harvestcrs.
The choice Of variety must he
made by the farmer himself The
South Carolina Agricultural Expert
ment Station found that Mammoth