Milford chronicle., 1924-05-16
SOYBEANS VALUABLE
ASSET TO FARMERS
Meeting AT Georgetown Results In
Increase Interest In SOybean
Culture In Sussex.
DELAWARE WELL LOCATED
Climate And Soil Conditions In This
State Are Ideal For Producing
, High Grade Seed.

Every farmer in the State who is
interested in soy beans should have
attended the soy bean growers meet
ing which was held in Georgetown
Delaware, a few days ago. Over fifty
growers responded to this meeting
which was arranged by the Extension
Department of the University of Della
ware for the purpose of considering
the organization of a soy bean grow
ers' association as a Statewide pro-
ject.
One Of the principal speakers was
Mr.. w. J. Morse, who is the soy bean
specialist for the United States De-
partment of Agriculture, and who has
been working with this particular
crop for seventeen years with view
of determining the varieties best ad-
apted to certain sections of the U. S.
and the most profitable cultural
methods that should be practiced by
the growers. Mr.. Morse stated that
the soy bean was primarily forage
plant and that it was also used in
many sections of the country for hay.
He stated further that only very
limited area in the United States was
suitable for seed production, and Del
aware happens to be one of these
favorable sections. In view Of these
facts, therefore, tbe farmers in this
State have an excellent opportunity to
grow soy beans for seed, and the mar
ket prices for beans during the past
two or three years have been a good
Indication of the great demand for
this seed, not only locally but from
many outside sources. When we con-
slider that practically seVenty-five per
cent. of the soy beans grown in the
country are used for forage and hay
purposes, it becomes apparent that a
large supply of seed must be produced
annually to plant this acreage.
Mr.. Morse also stated that the Will
son soy bean was a very productive
variety and one that has rapidly gain
ed popularity among the farmers Of
Delaware. 1t must be remembered,
however, that not all of the black
beans that are produced and sold by
our farmers are of the same strain
of the Wilson variety. According to
results of the identification of these
various strains there have been dis
covered eleven different types of the
same variety that are being sold as
Wilson beans. The particular strain
with the Extension Department and
the United States Department of Agri-
culture recommend that we select for
seed purposes is the one known as the
Wilson Five as this strain has proven
to be the one best suited to our con-
ditions. The development of this
strain would be of special Importance
in case the growers should decide to
produce strictly high-class certified
seed on a commercial scale.
County Agent Russell E. Wilson has /
secured from the Agricultural EXten- |
sion Department of the University of |
Delaware, a small quantity of the Will (
son Five strain of soy beans for /
Unconstitutional purposes. These /
beans will be distributed to three or |
four different growers in the county, !
and each cO-Operator will be requested /
to plant these beans separate from |
the others and to carefully harvest the |
seed for use next spring. In this
manner an effort will be made to in
troduce this special strain which has
possibilities of becoming our leading
commercial strain for seed purposes.
Another feature of soy bean grow
ing in this State which has a promis-
ing future IS the organization of CO.
operative soy bean growers associa-
ton, which would have as it's chief OBJ
ject the marketing of certified seed
on commercial basis. At the recent
in Georgetown this subject
was discussed by Professor G. A.
Jackson, who is connected with the
Virginia Crop Improvement Associa-
ton, and who told of the advantages
and possibilities of such an organiza-
ton. The growers in Delaware should
have an organization of this kind and
they will have one if they will get to-
gether and support the movement
which has already been started to- ]
ward the formation of an association.
This type of marketing in connection ;
with the production of high grade
seed should result in a profitable form ,
Of agricultural development which +
would be Of credit to the State as a
whole.