The Bulletin. 



51 



all other varieties, but is later in maturing than the Hollybrook, there- 

 fore where the seasons are short it would be advisable to plant the 

 Hollybrook. The Hollybrook is also a yellow seeded variety, the seed 

 smaller and the growth not as rank as the Mammonth. Doubtless some 

 of the other promising varieties will soon be tried out at the Test 

 Farms and the results made known to our farmers. 



Preparation of the Soil. 



Soy beans require good preparation of the soil. Slipshod prepara- 

 tion usually results in either a failure of the crop or a very much 

 diminished yield. They can be either sown broadcast at the rate of a 

 bushel per acre or planted in rows and cultivated. The latter plan 

 gives best results. The rows should be from 2% to 3 feet apart and the 



Fig. 33.— A field of the Mammoth variety of soy bean in North Carolina. 

 Farmers Bulletin 372, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



beans planted in hills of three or four beans every 6 or 8 inches, or 

 distributed along the row at the rate of one bean every 2 or 3 inches. 

 The locality in which they are planted, the soil and drainage, should 

 govern the width of the rows and also the distance the beans are in the 

 row. In the rich black soils of the eastern part of the State 

 the distance should be greater than in the central or western part of 

 the State. They should not be covered over an inch deep. Early plant- 

 ing usually gives better results than late plantings. Care should be 

 exercised in securing seed for planting. It is not safe to plant seed 

 that have been carried over a year. They deteriorate very rapidly. 

 Unless properly cared for when first harvested they will heat and their 

 power of germination will be weakened. In purchasing seed buy only 

 bright plump seed, the viability of which is guaranteed. In the eastern 



