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



THE SOY BEAN IN ASIA. 

 ASIATIC SOURCES OF SOY BEANS. 



Soy beans are grown most abundantly in Asia in Japan, Korea, 

 Manchuria, and in the northern provinces of China, namely Shan-si 

 and Shan-tung, but little detailed statistical information concerning 

 the crop has yet been published.'' 



In other provinces of China the plant seems not to be cultivated 

 extensively, though grown as far south as the Yangtse. Seeds have 

 also been received from such places as Canton and Hongkong in 

 southern China, but it is not certain that these were grown there. 

 The soy bean is also grown sparingly in Formosa, Cochin China, 

 Celebes, Java, and India. 



According to Watt ^ the soy bean is "extensively cultivated 

 throughout India and in eastern Bengal, Khasi Hills, Manipur, the 

 Naea Hills, and Burma, often found as a weed on fields or near culti- 

 vation." The few varieties secured from India are very distmct, 

 indicating a long culture in that country, as indeed the numerous 

 vernacular names used would imply. 



LIST OF VARIETIES. 



Among the many varieties introduced it is a very interesting fact 

 that the same variety has rarely been secured a second time unless 

 from the same place. It appears that practically every locality in 

 China has its own local varieties. If this be true, then there are 

 probably several times as many varieties existing as have yet been 

 obtained. In general, the earliest varieties come from the northern- 

 most locahties, the latest from the southernmost. 



The following lists show the various places in Asia from which 

 soy-bean seed has been obtained. Distinct soy-bean varieties are 

 obtained from practically every different locality. The list not 

 only indicates to some extent the distribution of the soy bean, but 

 will suggest the more likely regions from which valuable new varieties 

 may be obtained. 



SIBERIA. 



South Usuri, Nos. 480, 20699; Khabarovsk, Nos. 18227, 20405, 20406, 20408; Mer- 

 koechofka, Nos. 20407, 20409, 20410, 20411, 10412, 20414. 



MANCHURIA. 



Newchwang, Nos. 19183, 19184, 19186; Harbin, No. 20854; Tieling, Nos. 21079, 

 21080. 



"See, however, the following works: Hosie, Alexander, Report on the Province of 

 Szechwan, 1904, and Soya Bean and Products; Special Consular Reports, vol. 40, 

 1909, Bureau of Manufactures, Department of Commerce and Labor. 



b Dictionary of the Economic Products of India, 1890, vol. 3, p. 510. 

 197 



