POPULAR SCIENCE 447 



five inches long, and eaten raw with vinegar ; beans, germinated 

 and treated with brine, have also been noted in Spain. 



Soya-beans may be cooked and used in the same way as 

 haricot-beans, and may also be picked when young and treated 

 like green peas, in which condition they may be canned. 



In China vegetable milk is prepared from soya-beans ; it 

 is suitable for replacing milk in cakes, chocolates, and custards. 

 If the vegetable milk is kept for several days it turns sour, and 

 can be used as butter-milk. In Japan the vegetable milk is 

 condensed. One firm in England is engaged in the production 

 of a similar milk from soya-beans. 



Beans may be grown till their shoots are six or seven inches 

 high, and then cut as asparagus ; also seedlings about two 

 inches high may be blanched with boiling water, washed in cold 

 water, dried, and used for salad. 



In Switzerland and America soya-beans are roasted, ground, 

 and used as a coffee substitute. 



Soya-bean flour is employed in the United States for bread- 

 making ; experiments show that the bean flour increases the 

 nutritive value of the bread without detracting from its flavour. 

 In pastries, muffins, marzipan, pastry-fillings, etc., soya-bean 

 flour can be used successfully. In Germany soya-bean flour is 

 mixed with rye flour for brown bread. 



On account of its low carbohydrate content, the soya-bean 

 finds a place among diabetic diets, and is produced by firms 

 specialising in foods of low starch content. 



In the manufacture of macaroni, soya-bean products are 

 sometimes used. 



Utilisation of Soya-Bean Oil 



Soya-bean oil can be refined for edible purposes, and used in 

 compound lards and cooking-fats ; in Italy the oil is used 

 largely in culinary operations. 



The oil has almost replaced linseed oil in the preparation of 

 soft soap, and can partially take the place of cotton-seed oil 

 in hard soap. 



The semi-drying and non-congealing nature of the oil renders 

 it useful as a substitute for linseed oil in paints, varnishes, and 

 enamels. 



In China the oil is used for illuminating purposes ; no lamp 

 is necessary to hold the oil, which is placed in a basin or plate 

 in which a wick has been inserted. 



It is the custom in North China and Manchuria to grease 

 axles and various parts of native machinery with soya- 

 bean oil. 



Soya-bean oil is used also in th? marjufacture of linoleum, 



