CHEMISTIO- OF THE SOYA BEAN. 1 25 



The ratio of inorganic to organic constituents is accordingly 

 I :22.82. 



The composition of the air-dried beans was: — 



Water 4.80 per cent. 



Albuminoids 34-0/ ?> 



Nitrogen-free Extract .... 27.99 " 



Ether Extract ( Oil) 17.68 



Crude Fibre 11 . 17 „ 



Ash 4.23 



This analysis does not afford any fresh information on the 

 soya bean ; it only confirms that the soya is very rich in oil and 

 albuminoids. Numerous experiments carried out in physio- 

 logical institutions prove that the constituents of the soya bean 

 are most digestible. 



The composition of the ash of the soya bean illustrates in 

 a striking way that the requirements of the plant, so far as 

 plant food is concerned, are principally potash and phosphatic 

 manures. 



The results of the analysis of the ash of the largest white 

 soya bean were as follows : — 



Silica 5-56 per cent. 



Calcic Oxide 5 • 60 „ 



Phosphoric Oxide 30 -46 ,, 



Sulphuric Oxide .. 3.71 ,, 



Potassic Oxide 50-36 



Sodic Oxide 2.41 



Ferric Oxide .58 



Magnesic Oxide 1.40 



In the village of Swellendam a small plot of ground was 

 planted with soya beans of the same sample ; it was a fairly 

 rich alluvial soil. The beans were planted towards the end 

 of September, 1914. and harvested at the beginning of February, 

 191 5. During the period of growth they were twice irrigated. 

 They grew into shrubs of five feet high, and the weight of the 

 air-dried plant was on an average 6 lb. The average number 

 of beans in pods was three, and the weight of 100 beans 17.438 

 grammes, corresponding to 2.7 grains per bean. 



The beans obtained from these plants grown at Swellendam 

 contained : — 



Albuminoids 25 . i ^6 per cent. 



Oil 18.783 



The other parts of these plants also contained much albu- 

 minous matter, and supply an excellent fodder for horses and 

 cattle. 



The pods contain 2.63 per cent, of albuminous substance. 



The hay contains 4.02 per cent, of albuminous substance. 



The leaves contain 10.40 per cent, of albuminous substance. 



>f 



J) 



