LHTT1:R OF TRAXSMiriAL 



U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



Bureau of Plant Industry, 



Office of the Chief, 



WasMngt07i, I). O., Decemher I4, LOOS.' 



Sir: I have the nonor to transmit herewith and to recomniend for 

 pubHcation as Bulletin No. 98 of the series of this Bureau the accom- 

 panyinjj manuscript, entitled "Soy Bean Varieties." 



This paper was i)repared by Mr. Carleton R. Ball, now A<2:ronomist 

 in the Grain Investigations of this Bureau, as the result of four years' 

 investigations under the direction of the Agrostologist. 



Soy beans have become an important crop in only a few localities 

 in the United States, but in cases where farmers liave learned how to 

 utilize them to best advantage they have proved to be a crop of high 

 value. They are especially valual)le for mixing with corn for silage, 

 for the production of hay", and for use as pasture, especially for hogs. 

 They possess an advantage over cowpeas in that the growth is erect, 

 and they are therefore easily harvested. Some of the taller sorts 

 may be harvested with an ordinary grain binder. 



One reason why soy beans have not become more prominent in 

 American agriculture has been the impossibility of securing seeds of a 

 particular variety. In this bulletin Mr. Ball has given an accurate 

 description of each of the varieties, and where a suitable name has 

 not already been attached to a variety a name is suggested. It is 

 hoped that these varieties may pass into the trade under the names 

 given in this bulletin, so that in the future farmers may be able to 

 obtain from seedsmen, the particular kind of soy bean which they 

 wish to plant. 



Respectfully, B. T. Galloway, 



CJiief of Bureau. 



Hon. James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



