36 THE SOY BEAN; HISTORY, VARIETIES, AND FIELD STUDIES. 



DESIRABLE CHARACTERS IN SOY-BEAN VARIETIES. 

 CONSIDERATIONS GOVERNING CHOICE. 



The determination of tlie best variety of soy bean for any locality 

 will depend first on whether it is grown primarily for hay or for 

 grain, or for both purposes. In this, as with other crops, yield is 

 the most valuable single desideratum. Secondary considerations of 

 importance are habit of the plant, degree of coarseness, ability to 

 retain the foliage, color of seed, and ease of shattering. 



HABIT OF THE PLANT. 



Erectness of stem with upright or ascending branches is a prime 

 requisite of a desirable variety. A tall habit is also important, as 

 dwarf varieties usually bear pods very close to the ground, so that 

 many will be left on the stubble, which is not the case in many tall 

 sorts. 



COARSENESS. 



An objection to some varieties of soy beans is the coarse, woody 

 stem which makes mowing difficult. There are many slender varie- 

 ties where this objection does not hold, but slenderness is usually 

 accompanied with small pods and seeds, and often with vining tips 

 and a tendency to lodge. Unless there is lodging, such varieties are 

 easily mown. 



ABILITY TO RETAIN LEAVES. 



Nearly all soy beans begin to shed their leaves as the pods ripen. 

 There are a number of exceptions to this, like the Wisconsin Black, 

 where the leaves remain green even after all the pods are mature. 

 It may be possible to combine this character as a valuable feature 

 to later varieties to be grown both for hay and grain. 



COLOR OF THE SEED. 



Yellow or green seeds are preferable to darker colors, as the shat- 

 tered seeds are more easily found by hogs pasturing the field or 

 stubble. 



SHATTERING. 



When grown for grain alone, shattering is a serious fault. Some 

 varieties, like Guelph, shatter inordinately; others, like Peking, 

 scarcely at all; while most varieties shatter somewhat, especially 

 during changeable weather, if not harvested when ripe. As a rule 

 the varieties with large pods and seeds shatter much worse than 

 those with small pods and seeds. In a few varieties, like Brownie, 

 the seed coats break badly in thrashing, a very objectionable character. 



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