EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 227 



SOY BEANS. 

 {Glycine hispida.) 



The name Soy bean is used more commonly than Soja bean, although cither is cor- 

 rect. The Soy bean came originally from Japan in the early part of the last century, 

 but has received no particular attention in this country until within the past dozen 

 years. It has, however, a more extended reign in the northern states than the cow pea, 

 being a little more hardy and ripening its seeds in a shorter season. The Soy bean 

 grows in an upright branching stalk from one to three feet high. The growth of leaves 

 is quite luxuriant. They are irregular in shape and drop off when the plants become 

 ripe. The numerous pods arc Hat, brown and fuzzy, containing from two to four seeds. 

 The beans are flattened, round, about the shape though smaller than the navy bean, 

 and vary in color according to the variety. There are a great many varieties of this 

 plant, from the dwarf which grows short stalks, bearing great quantities of small seeds, 

 to the long branching sorts having a tendency to climb, and which do not produce their 

 seeds in northern latitudes. The Soy bean will grow well on any of our Michigan soils, 

 although it responds to good soil, moisture and favorable conditions for growth. On 

 light sandy soil it developes an immense growth of root tubercles and will make a growth 

 far in advance of any non-leguminous plant. If given a good supply of moisture during 

 the first six weeks of its growth, it will withstand and continue to grow vigorously 

 during the severe summer drought. It, like the cow peas, should be sown after the 

 danger of spring frosts, and will probably give the best returns when sown in drills, 

 with the seeds dropped singly about three inches apart, the rows being from two to 

 two and a half feet apart. 



Mr. Edward E. Evans of West Branch, Mich., who has been growing Soy beans for 

 green manure, forage and seed, writes regarding their culture as follows: 



"On rich soils cow peas and true peas run to vines, producing very little seed. On 

 such soil the Soy produces a proportionately larger crop of both plant and seed. In 

 growing Soys the same general rules that apply to white field beans should be followed. 

 It must be borne in mind, however, that Soys form their first pods about four or five 

 inches from the point at which the seed was planted. For this reason they should 

 -be covered only deep enough to insure germination. They can be planted with a corn 

 or bean planter, or grain drill. I use an Empire drill with bean attachments, planting 

 three rows 28 inches apart. The ideaf Soy bean planter will drop single beans three 

 or four inches apart. This seeding will require eight to sixteen quarts per acre, varying 

 with variety and size of beans.'' 



The cultivation for the crop should be done as much as possible before the seed is 

 sown. Owing to the fact of the lateness of seeding, which should occur not earlier than 

 May 15, and with favorable conditions for growth can be delayed until the middle to 

 the last of June, this preliminary cultivation can be made very effectual in lessening 

 the slower work of cultivating the growing crop. The energy of the crop during the 

 first six weeks of its growth appears to be devoted to establishing a good root system 

 to carry it through the summer drought. Two or three cultivatings will generally 

 suffice. The weeder can be used to advantage until the plants are too high to pass under ' 

 the frame. After this time, .the plants grow so rapidly that they soon have such 

 complete possession and so thoroughly shade the ground as to require no further care. 



The method of harvesting the crop will depend somewhat upon the use to which it 

 is put. If to be used for soiling, if may be cut with the mowing machine or scythe a^ 

 soon as the pods begin to appear. For the silo, it will be better to give the plants time 

 for complete growth, though not allow them to reach the mature state, when the seeds 

 will become hard and liable to shell. This would also be the time to cut for hay. If 

 grown for seed, it is better to allow the crop to ripen ami drop i t ^ leaves. The straw. 

 of course, when the crop is about to mature, as will be seen in the table of analyses, 

 will be of little value as feed. Mr. Evans writes in regard to harvesting as follows: 



"If for seed, the crop should he harvested when most of the leaves have fallen off, 

 preferably in damp weather to avoid shelling. A week of rain will not injure the 

 beans. * * * For soiling, they may be cu1 at any time after the pods commence to 

 form; for the silo, when pods attain their full si/.e, but before they harden. Most 

 varieties can be harvested with the bean harvester, but it will be found necessary to 

 keep the shears sharper than for common beans. The mower can be used, but the 



