EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



551 



made, though earlier planting is advisable. Mr. E. E. Evans, legume 

 specialist of West Branch, Ogemaw Co., Michigan, states that the great- 

 est error of soy bean growers in northern Micliigan is too late planting 

 and that he has never seen the crop seriously injured by frost between 

 May 10th and October 1st. The past season (1919) Ito San soy beans 

 planted at the Experiment Station on May 21st yielded G24 pounds per 

 acre more hay than did the same variety planted June 7th. In southern 

 and central Michigan and on the earlier soils of Northern Michigan it 

 is good practice to have the soy beans planted by early June. 



A Fitld of Soybeans. 



DEPTH OF I'LANTING. 



It is advisable to plant as shallow as possible and still cover properly. 

 Since it is difficult for soy beans to get above ground too deep planting 

 will result in a very poor stand. When the seed is iK)orly covered on 

 the loamy and lighter soils, a thorough rolling will usually cover all 

 uncovered beans. If the ground is ver}' dry deeper planting will do no 

 harm unless a beating rain should form a crust. In case a crust is 

 formed before the beans have made signs of appearance above the ground, 

 a very light harrowing Avith a spike-tooth harrow will be beneficial. 



INOCULATION. 



When planting soy beans in a field for the first time, it is desirable 

 to inoculate if the best results are to be secured that season. There are 

 several methods of inoculation, one of the simplest being by the pure 

 culture method. This material may be secured from the Department of 

 Bacteriology, M. A. C, East Lansing, Mich. Full directions for applica- 

 tion accompany the material. 



Another method is to take well-inoculated soil from a field where soy 



