The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-03-17
THE SOY BEAN

The soil requirements Of soy beans
are quite similar TO those of corn
but the plants will make satisfac
tory growth on poorer soil than corn
The best results, perhaps, are OBJ
tanned on medium loans, although
clay and sandy soils may be mad,
TO produce good crops The soy bear
does not require a well-drained soil
although a soil where water stand
for a considerable length of time j.
not desirable. II is able to with
stand a greater amout Of moisture
however, than either cowpeas or corn.
The soy bean is also decidedly drought
resistant-nnch more so than the
cOwpea.
Soil Preparation
Soy beans succeed best on a thoro-
" prepared soil. The land should
he plowed early and deep, fitted. and
then narrowed at intervals until the
beans are planted. The young plants
CT soy beans are not able TO push
their way through a hard crust, as
are corn and Cowpcas Thus, to in
sure a good stand. the seed should
have a light sovering of loose, mel
low soil.
Fertilizers
The use Of commercial fertilizers
is recommended where sandy soil
predominates or the soil is of low
fertility. Where fertilizers are used
good results have been obtained by
using a dressing of stable manure or
200 to 800 pounds of acid phosphate.
In using the commercial fertilizer it
is we'll 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 nitrogen to
the soil Natural incubation now
occurs quite generally throughout the
soy-bean region in the southern
United States. In localities. where
the crop has not been previously
grown, however, it is advisable to in
oculate. incubation may be most GER
tainly 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 be-
fore sowing. incubation can be Sc
cured from any seed company hand
ling soy beans.
Seeding and Cultivation
Soy beans may be soYn at any time
after danger Of severe frosts is over,
ranging from early spring until mid
summer As a rule, however, the
late varieties are preferable and
should be planted about the same
time as corn.
Soy beans are grown either in Gull
tivated rows or broadcast. depending
on the purpose for which they are
grown. The row method is prefera-
BILE in weedy land and usually gives
larger yields of hay and practically
always of seed. The general prac-
tice for seed production is the row
method, 30 to AZ inches apart. For
hay, soiling or green manure, a
drilled or broadcasted crop furnishes
a finer quality of forage In rows.
from 20 TO 30 pounds Of seed to the
acre are required; when sown broad
cast or drilled, from 60 to 90 pounds
Soy beans are generally drilled
with an ordinary grain drill. BY
covering the feed cups not in use the
distance between rows can be ad-
iusted as desired. For small fields
the ordinary garden drill does we'll.
Under proper soil conditions soy
beans terminate in three TO five days.
AS soon as the seeding plants APP
pear above the ground cultivation
may begin Soy beans should re-
ceive at least three civilizations.
Rotations
Soy beans may be combined ad-
in many systems of
crop rotation. The cash value Of the
seed is sufficient to encourage the
growing Of these beans as one Of
the main crops Of the rotation. Soy
beans are adapted 70 practically the
same place in rotations as are cow
peas. In some localities a soy-bean
crop is grown between two wheat
crops and in other parts between oat
crops. Wheat, winter oats, and win
ter barley may follow soy beans.
Mixtures
Soy beans may he satisfactorily
grown in combination with other